The basic expectation for anyone living in the United States is simple: follow the law to avoid landing in trouble. However, since ICE activity has increased, citizens and non-citizens alike must be very careful everywhere. For instance, a Chicago, Illinois resident recording their commute was confronted by ICE agents, who exited a van, forced their way into the vehicle, and smashed the individual’s phone.
Redditor CantStopPoppin shared their very uncalled-for tragedy on r/illinois. In the video, the driver films the intersection and briefly pans over to a black van parked nearby. Moments later, several ICE agents step out of the vehicle. Although the driver wasn’t doing anything wrong, two agents force open the car door and grab the driver’s phone. The camera then spins toward the ground, likely just before the phone breaks. Throughout the encounter, the driver repeatedly asks what they are doing and insists they are a U.S. citizen.
“Indecent. immoral. evil. wrong,” commented LauterTuna via Reddit.
“Send them to alligator Alcatraz, they seem to love it so much. FL, seems to consider it fair punishment, even though amnesty international compared it to North Korean style prisons,” said Final_Location_2626 via Reddit.
“Yeah no. We need to actually deal with the evil in the country this time (if we get a chance),” added BmacIL via Reddit.
Many users suggested that every person who suffered at the hands of ICE agents should sue them. They also said that if there were too many lawsuits, it would likely cause bankruptcy, leaving ICE without the means to continue its operations. However, many others agreed that no lawsuit would proceed against ICE. So other users advised that it is best to always drive with the doors and windows closed. Sadly, there have been other cases in which ICE agents break car windows to detain people. Their tactics are the worst.
Sadly, it seems that no one is safe from these injustices. It seems impossible that the driver will receive compensation or anything similar. We’ll have to see how this new reality in the US evolves, and how far this chapter under Trump’s second term will go.
