WHY IS EVERYONE TALKING ABOUT ICE?

By Scarlett T., Grade 10

ICE has become a name that appears in the news almost every single day. For some people, ICE is law enforcement and security, while for others it raises many concerns about safety and human rights. As ICE continues to have strong reactions across the country and at MIS, understanding what ICE is and why it is so controversial is more important than ever right now.

Perspectives

Many MIS students are very openly opinionated on the matter.

Luca B. Grade 10, states, “I’m from Portland, and I think what ICE is doing is truly disgusting, and it is destroying the United States.”

Luca is very educated and has a large opinion on ICE because it affects people he loves and where he originated from.

“It’s a horrible thing that happened and cannot be justified or validated no matter what their reasoning is. I think ICE is just problematic and aggressive for no reason and this should be treated as a murder,” stated Sienna C. Grade 10.

To understand why these students feel so strongly, it’s important to know what ICE is and the impact it has on the United States.

What is ICE?

The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a federal agency that is ordered to enforce immigration laws. This includes arresting people that are believed to be in the country unlawfully and handling deportations. ICE was created after the September 11 attacks in 2003 to handle security, but recently, ICE has become one of the most controversial topics in the United States.

What does ICE do?

The Department of Homeland Security employs ICE. Its responsibilities include arresting and detaining undocumented immigrants, deporting people who violate the immigration laws, and investigating crimes like human trafficking. ICE’s work ranges from major immigration raids to monitoring criminals involving foreign countries.
ICE’s role became significantly bigger after President Donald Trump’s re-election and his administrations want for stronger immigration enforcement. This included targeting immigrants living in certain cities that limit cooperation with authorities to protect the undocumented residents.

Public Views
The public opinion about ICE is very split among political opinions. Here are some gatherings of recent opinions:
•A national survey that can be seen on AA.com reported that 57% of registered voters disapprove of how ICE enforces the immigration laws.
•In this same survey, 53% of people said a recent fatal shooting (Renee Good) involving an ICE agent was unjustified, showing concerns about how force is used.
•According to The Guardian many Americans think ICE’s actions make cities less safe and that their tactics are often too aggressive.
People in the Democrat and Independent parties tend to view ICE negatively, with many people saying the agents often wrongfully arrest and deport people, including those who are legal. In contrast, Republicans are more likely to see ICE’s work as necessary for border security and enforcing laws.

Recent Incidents

ICE has appeared in the news frequently, especially in 2025 and early 2026, often being tied to violent events.
On January 14, 2026, a Venezuelan man was shot in the leg by an ICE agent during a traffic stop in Minneapolis. This situation escalated significantly with residents of the city resenting law enforcement, leading to many protests for ICE to leave their city. Officials reported that the ICE agent acted in self defence after he was attacked but many believe the opposite. This incident followed with a fatal shooting by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, the murder of a woman named Renee Good. This caused a nationwide outrage and made protests more frequent and intense. Many people argue that ICE’s tactics use excessive force and have damaged the trust within the citizens and their government.

Throughout 2025, ICE’s enforcement led to protests in major cities like Los Angeles, Portland, New York, and Chicago. Large protests against mass deportation were followed by resentment towards police and the National Guard being deployed in some areas. In California, a large ICE raid on a farm in Camarillo, resulted in over 300 arrests and one death when a worker tried to escape. The operation sparked protests and accusations of unnecessary force used, including the use of tear gas. Journalists and former ICE agents have raised concerns about ICE’s hiring and training practices. According to The Guardian, a reporter said in early 2026 claiming she was offered an ICE job under small requirements. This led to criticism about the recruitment standards.

Protests

In the last week, a man named Alex Pretti was shot 11 times in the streets on Minneapolis, this caused a nationwide outrage. This sparked anti-ice protests, for example the national shut down. The national shut down happened all over the United States, including California, Arizona, Minneapolis, etc. In San Francisco over 100,000 people skipped work, school, and didn’t contribute to buying anything from stores or businesses, instead they protested together in the streets.

The debate over ICE is a key factor to broader discussions about U.S. immigration policy. Supporters of ICE argue that such strong enforcement protects the borders and public safety, especially when law enforcement works with federal authorities. Non supporters of ICE argue that ICE’s tactics often violate human rights, separating families, and create distrust in the government. Whether or not ICE will be expanded or replaced continues to be a major political issue, not just with politicians, but with normal Americans who are concerned about security, fairness, and human rights.