ICE agents often seem focused on enforcement above all else, and according to recent claims shared online, their actions do not always appear to discriminate between who they target. Whether someone is elderly, a child, or even an active-duty service member, they may still be questioned or detained if an agent decides they look suspicious. One particularly shocking story was recently shared by Navy Chief Marquise in Norfolk, Virginia, where he described how one of his sailors was allegedly detained by ICE agents.
According to Marquise, his sailor went to a Wawa less than two miles from the naval base at around 6:30 in the morning. He was reportedly in full uniform at the time. As he pulled out of the parking lot, he was immediately stopped by Norfolk police officers. What stood out most to Marquise was that it was not only the police who arrived at the scene. An ICE agent also showed up.
The Norfolk police reportedly claimed that the sailor had been pulled over because his vehicle’s window tint was too dark. Marquise pointed out that, in Virginia, window tint violations are generally considered a secondary offense. This means officers cannot legally stop a driver for that reason alone. When the sailor showed paperwork proving that his car met legal regulations, he believed the issue had been resolved. However, according to Marquise, the situation escalated when the ICE agent claimed that the sailor was an illegal immigrant.
The agent then allegedly demanded identification from the sailor to prove otherwise. The sailor handed over his military ID, but the agent reportedly said that this was not sufficient. As a result, the sailor was detained for approximately 90 minutes until he could present a passport to confirm his legal status.
Marquise stated that, in his opinion, the sailor was detained simply because he looked Hispanic. Because of this experience, he said he has begun advising his other sailors to carry their passports with them at all times. He warned them that even being in the military does not necessarily exempt them from being targeted or racially profiled by immigration authorities.
Once the story began circulating online, many people reacted with anger and disbelief. Social media users expressed concern about how people of color are treated in situations involving law enforcement and immigration officials. One user wrote, “This is so wrong. Americans look like ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY because that’s who we are. The time will come when we have to take a stand for what we know is right.” Another questioned the logic of the incident, saying, “You can literally get citizenship from joining the army, I know it for a fact. Does the Navy do that too? I’d find a lovely officer and go straight to the police station for a chat.”
