Across the Country Concerned Communities Reject the Terrorization of Immigrants by ICE
In Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland and other places across the country, concerned residents are filming, organizing, and standing up against DHS’ ICE and Border Patrol excessive use of force and violation of civil liberties.
Washington, D.C. — Ever since President Trump began his mass deportation campaign, there has been an alarming flood of footage on social media documenting troubling incidents of abuse of power by DHS’s ICE and Border Patrol against nonviolent, noncriminal immigrants and people of color. From Los Angeles to Portland, to Memphis, and now Chicago, the heart-wrenching videos reveal accounts of abuse of power and excessive use of force by federal agents. Most recently in Chicago, the violence ushered in by this administration is unlike anything we’ve seen in recent history.
These attacks are not happening in a vacuum. As part of an organized effort to sow fear in immigrant and diverse communities, President Trump himself recently said in a 60 Minutes interview that his administration has not “gone far enough.” Under his administration, the Department of Homeland Security, led by Secretary Kristi Noem, was recently awarded unprecedented funds—exceeding those of other agencies—with little to no oversight through his “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
What is happening across the country—particularly in Chicago—must be taken seriously and demands a national reckoning, as our nation reaches a breaking point of zero tolerance for government-sanctioned violence against immigrant communities.
Standing in solidarity with impacted communities Voto Latino issued the following statement:
“The escalating use of excessive force by federal agents in local communities, as we’ve seen unfold in Chicago over the last few weeks, should alarm people across the country and serve as a wake-up call to elected leaders—regardless of party affiliation. As these incidents have unfolded, neighbors and community members have refused to remain silent, demanding answers. These images demonstrate the extent to which DHS has allowed its agents to go rogue.
The response we’re witnessing from concerned individuals—regardless of who they voted for in the last election—teaches us all something. Residents are taking accountability into their own hands: filming, organizing, and pushing back to keep families together. This is what democracy looks like—when communities refuse to be intimidated and choose courage over silence.
The Trump administration has crossed a dangerous line—one that transcends immigration policy or politics. This is no longer about politics; this is about upholding America’s core values. It’s about respecting the humanity and dignity of every single person that calls the United States home. When agents abduct citizens and law-abiding community members off our streets and arrest parents in front of their children, that is not law enforcement—t is a blatant abuse of power sanctioned by this administration. Our communities will not stand for it.”
In broad daylight, ICE and border patrol agents are terrorizing families and violating due process. In the past weeks alone, we have witnessed disturbing scenes:
- A pre-K teacher was handcuffed by ICE inside a daycare facility in front of her students and parents. She was legally authorized to work in the United States and repeatedly told the agents arresting her, “tengo papeles.” ICE is targeting daycare centers and arresting immigrants without warrants.
- Federal agents in unmarked vehicles have engaged in high-speed chases, crashing into cars driven by families to arrest them afterward.
- Toddlers were caught in a cloud of tear gas canisters released by federal agents — a 2-year-old began stuttering as parents rushed their children to the hospital in panic, describing their neighborhood as “a war zone.”
- Masked officers attempting detentions in the streets of Illinois. Let’s make one thing clear: This is a direct attack on our communities.
At Voto Latino, we remain steadfast in our mission to continue to empower our communities by demanding accountability from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, and the administration at large. We call on federal leadership to end the use of fear as a policy tool, and to lead with compassion.
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Voto Latino is a civic advocacy organization dedicated to educating and empowering the next generation of Latino voters while working to build a more inclusive and representative democracy. Since its founding, Voto Latino has registered nearly two million voters. In 2024, the organization took legal action to protect voting rights, filing multiple lawsuits in Texas, Arizona, and North Carolina to safeguard access to the ballot ahead of the elections.