What is ICE
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in 2002 in response to national security threats that emerged after the September 11 attacks.The director of ICE is appointed by the President of the United States, and currently, this position is held by Todd M. Lyons, who took office in March 2025.
The primary mission of ICE is to enforce immigration laws and combat crimes related to migration. It is responsible for identifying illegal migrants, organizing their deportation, and investigating cases of smuggling and financial crimes.
The agency significantly strengthened its position during the Trump administration, which promoted a tough immigration policy. ICE employs about 20,000 staff members and has over 400 offices both in the U.S. and abroad. The agency's annual budget is $8 billion, making it one of the most financially well-off federal institutions in the country.
Reasons for Protests
On January 7, 2026, an ICE agent shot 37-year-old Rene Nicole Good, claiming she threatened them by driving her car toward them.Later, on January 24, in the same city, 37-year-old nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretty was shot. Officials stated that he was armed; however, footage from the scene shows that he only had a phone in his hands.
Context of Criticism
Since 2025, ICE has faced a wave of criticism. Journalists have highlighted raids in public places, educational institutions, and immigration court hearings. Among the accusations are family separation, harsh detention conditions, and mass hiring of staff without proper training.According to the Associated Press, in May 2025, Todd Lyons signed a secret memorandum allowing ICE agents to enter homes without warrants, based solely on administrative and final arrest and deportation orders. This sparked outrage among lawyers, who saw it as a violation of citizens' rights.
Human rights organizations report poor conditions in detention centers. In 2025, 32 people died in such facilities, the worst figure since 2004. In September 2025, over a hundred detainees in California went on hunger strike, protesting against unsanitary conditions and lack of medical care; however, the Department of Homeland Security denied these claims.
At the end of December 2025, Trump ordered ICE agents to be deployed to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, leading to a series of incidents involving violence and mistreatment of detainees.
Formats of Protests
Protests are taking various forms.Activists have organized over 200 protests across the country, according to CNN.
In Minneapolis, people gathered on the beach to form the word "SOS." In solidarity with the city, rallies also took place in California, Oregon, Washington, New York, Texas, and other states.
Most events were peaceful, but some ended in clashes with law enforcement.
Some citizens organized strikes, closing their businesses and skipping workdays. The slogan for these actions is "No work, no school, no shopping."
New York University professor Scott Galloway proposed a new format for protest: a mass economic boycott, urging people to cancel subscriptions to services like Amazon Prime, Netflix, and others. He believes that authorities fear not only protests but also financial repercussions.
At the Grammy Awards ceremony, participants also expressed their protest. Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny, the first recipient of the top award for an album in Spanish, called for action against Trump's immigration policy:
“We are not animals or aliens. We are people. And we are Americans.”
Billy Eilish, who won the Song of the Year award, also called for active action:
“We must continue to fight and speak out. Our voices matter.”
Is the Situation Critical?
Amid the protests, Donald Trump's approval rating has declined. According to a Reuters and Ipsos poll, his support has fallen to 38%, the lowest figure of his term. At the beginning of January, this figure was 41%.Some Americans have even begun to talk about the possibility of a civil war. One user in a post called for the recognition of the start of "Civil War 2.0," accompanying the message with a photo of the conflict between protesters and police.
“It seems so,” Elon Musk commented on this post.
Government Response
Donald Trump instructed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to ensure that ICE agents do not interfere with protests in cities with Democratic leadership. However, he noted that federal agents would be prepared to respond "methodically and effectively" to requests from local authorities if necessary.Nevertheless, Trump warned that federal agencies would act "harshly" if it became necessary to protect federal property. "We will not allow damage to our buildings," he emphasized.
He characterized the protesters as "well-paid lunatics and anarchists," noting that his immigration policy is supported by the majority of Americans.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the implementation of body cameras for all federal immigration agents in Minnesota.
Additionally, independent journalist Georgia Fort and former CNN host Don Lemon were arrested and charged with felonies during coverage of the protests against ICE, which sparked public discontent, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
Investigation of Incidents
Following the unrest caused by Pretty's killing, Trump announced the initiation of a "fair investigation" into the incident. Congress received a report on a preliminary internal investigation.Agents involved in the incident were temporarily suspended from duty while potential rights violations and abuse of power are being investigated.
The Hennepin County medical examiner confirmed that Pretty's death was caused by the actions of law enforcement officers, although this does not always imply criminal liability.
According to the report, Pretty died in the hospital from multiple gunshot wounds inflicted by law enforcement officers (according to the Department of Homeland Security, this was a border agent). Other details are absent from the report.
