While protestors are still rallying together in Minnesota following violence from federal agents, some are getting creative with their efforts. It’s a longstanding belief that ICE is targeting people based on race, and now locals are using that information to their advantage. As detainments continue, some are resorting to protecting others by confusing agents.
The tactic, called “ICE fishing” by Minnesotans, has locals putting Mexican flags on their cars. The idea behind the act is twofold: it symbolizes unity within the Minneapolis community and serves as a lure for ICE. If agents are indeed profiling people based on race, in theory, they’re more likely to pull over a car with another country’s flag rather than one that’s unmarked. The goal is to spread ICE agents’ attention thin, encouraging them to target citizens who would otherwise be ignored.
People Are Divided on the Idea of Keeping ICE Distracted
As the news circulates on Reddit, there are mixed responses. Some are calling the idea brilliant, while others are warily concerned that it could backfire. “If white people are doing this, it’s a two-headed monster approach that continues to show that this is just a smoke screen to remove ‘undesirables who aren’t white,” one Redditor says. “First, it proves that ICE is intentionally profiling anything that goes with that assumption, and the second half is to have those nitwits have egg on their face when they are harassing a white person. But those folks have no sense of humility or admission of being wrong,” one Redditor says.
Alternatively, some encourage caution when joining in on the ICE distraction in Minnesota. “The idea of trolling ICE agents with Mexican flags is funny and subversive, but the reality is that ICE agents have shown zero hesitation in using violence against perceived threats. So while it’s a great symbolic gesture, actually doing it could put someone’s life at serious risk,” a Redditor warns.
