Think about being arrested by masked ICE agents.
Friday, June 13, 2025
What happened? I’m stepping back from the headlines to talk about how ICE is currently arresting people. What do these photos below have in common? Many ICE agents are completely covering their faces. In the top left, you’ll see a group of people in regular clothes and their faces covered in masks surrounding Rumeysa Ozturk to arrest her. (Some later pulled out their badges.) Just think about how terrifying this would be. If I were suddenly surrounded by people whose faces were completely covered, my first thought would not be that this was a peaceful encounter with law enforcement.
CATO — a libertarian think tank — compared ICE covering their faces to a secret police.1 Writes: “People who mask themselves before street confrontations ordinarily do so to avoid legal and public accountability, especially when they are up to no good.” Put yourself in the shoes of the person finding themselves surrounded by masked people with guns. How would you feel? Is this worth it for the sake of arresting people whose only violation may have been immigration status? Is it worth it for children to have to live through this and wonder if their parents will be ok? If they will be ok?
How can I pray? Pray for God’s comfort to surround the immigrants and their families on the receiving end of these terrifying arrests. Pray especially for the children who have seen their parents arrested in this way. Pray for the men and women who work as ICE agents. May they show dignity and respect to the immigrants they interact with, and have the courageous witness to speak up against the orders they have been given.
What is one more thing I can do? We’ve covered this before, but I believe that one of the best ways to know how to act in an unfamiliar situation is by occasionally thinking through exactly what you would do. Let’s talk through what you can do if you see an ICE arrest in your community. (Friendly reminder that I’m not a lawyer, but this is reputable legal information!)
You can record the whole encounter on your phone! You are not supposed to interfere with the officers.
You don’t have to answer ICE’s questions. You have the right to remain silent!
You can ask the person being arrested if they have a lawyer that you can call, or a family member they would like you to call.
ICE may or may not answer you, but you can ask to see their badge, and you can ask for their name.
From the Attorney General of Massachusetts: “Bottom Line: Bystanders can watch. Bystanders can record. But bystanders legally cannot obstruct, impede, or assault an ICE agent.”
As I used to say as a child, “Yes, times infinity!” I can’t read a story without asking myself - How would I react? I believe we’ve crossed a big, bad line!
Thanks for a great article and for sharing the prayer items and tips.