ICE: State-Sponsored Terror

Dec 20

Trump’s Fascist Regime

A state-sponsored terrorist group known as ICE is attacking our communities. ICE has become a central fear of everyday life in Latino communities. After Trump's election, he declared his intention to deport undocumented criminal immigrants. His claim has proven false (more on the facts later), and thousands of innocent latinos and their communities have been terrorized By ICE agents. The demand for ICE agents was so high that we now see overweight, out-of-shape men conducting these operations. Incompetency is also largely present within ICE. It's ironic to say both ICE agents are clowns and terrorists, but both can be true. There are many definitions of terrorism that are in use today. The definition of terrorism this article will use is as such:

“[t]he calculated use or threat of violence against civilians or noncombatants to create fear and coerce governments or populations for political, ideological, or social goals, differing from conventional warfare by targeting the innocent to send a message.”

Lenin commented on the relationship between capitalism and immigrant workers as follows:

“Capitalism has given rise to a special form of migration of nations. The rapidly developing industrial countries, introducing machinery on a large scale and ousting the backward countries from the world market, raise wages at home above the average rate and thus attract workers from the backward countries.

Hundreds of thousands of workers thus wander hundreds and thousands of versts. Advanced capitalism drags them forcibly into its orbit, tears them out of the backwoods in which they live, makes them participants in the world-historical movement and brings them face to face with the powerful, united, international class of factory owners.

There can be no doubt that dire poverty alone compels people to abandon their native land, and that the capitalists exploit the immigrant workers in the most shameless manner. But only reactionaries can shut their eyes to the progressive significance of this modern migration of nations. Emancipation from the yoke of capital is impossible without the further development of capitalism, and without the class struggle that is based on it. And it is into this struggle that capitalism is drawing the masses of the working people of the whole world, breaking down the musty, fusty habits of local life, breaking down national barriers and prejudices, uniting workers from all countries in huge factories and mines in America, Germany, and so forth.”

There is no doubt that immigration is a condition for people in less developed nations to immigrate to more developed nations, while capitalism in these developed nations exploits them. Growing resentment arises from individuals who do not work in the jobs that immigrants hold, such as those in agriculture, and is fueled by slogans like “Immigrants are taking our jobs” that are spread throughout the nation. To perpetuate anti-working-class rhetoric and incite violence against immigrant populations, the capitalist state must instill fear in these communities. ICE has targeted schools, Home Depots, traffic stops, and public spaces with threats or actual violence against immigrants this past year. They have kidnapped immigrants while not wearing any identifiable features that would indicate they were federal agents. Even American citizens have been detained because they look latino and the assumption is that they are undocumented. ICE fits the definition above of a terrorist group: threats of violence against civilians (immigrants), creating fear among them for political (securing the borders), ideological (conservative support for deportation, especially for Latinos), and social (white supremacy and the anti-worker goal of lowering the percentage of working-class Latinos in the United States) reasons, targeting the innocent (the majority have not committed crimes), and sending a message that we are not welcomed in this country. Past operations like Operation Wetback and the “Great Replacement Theory” frame immigrants as dangerous people who want to take over the United States and replace white (Anglo-Saxon) European people. White Supremacy is at the heart of what Trump wants, and he uses a terror organization like ICE to carry out his plan. At its core, this ideology represents fundamental conservatism.

Operation Wetback

In 1954 a large-scale immigration campaign called Operation Wetback was conducted to remove undocumented Mexican workers from the United States through arrests conducted by mass raids and ultimately deportation of Mexican workers. The agencies that were involved were the U.S. Border Patrol, the local police, the military as logistics support (such as in the present), and state authorities. There were around 1.1 million removals during this operation. There had been raids at farms, neighborhoods, factories, and public places (such as in the present time). Racial profiling, similar to what occurs today, was evident in the raids, which targeted individuals based on their appearances or the fact that they spoke Spanish. At the time there was minimal due process, and Mexicans had no chance to contest their deportation. There were reported deaths because of dehydration, overcrowding, and heat during their transport back to Mexico. Citizens and residents that were there lawfully were taken away alongside undocumented workers. The U.S. economy, which is rooted in labor like any other economy, has a heavy reliance on Mexican workers; however, complaints about undocumented labor, as seen in the present, led to these actions. Due to labor demand in the United States, undocumented migration resumed as a short-term impact. In contrast, the long-term effects created a model for militarized mass deportations. If you ever wondered about the word "wetback" and why it is a slur, it is because of this operation that had a lasting social impact on Mexicans. This situation was heavily rooted in the deportation of working-class Mexicans, who were targeted due to vocal concerns by European-Americans about them "stealing" American jobs, a prevalent talking point even today. The state-sponsored terror by ICE is fundamentally rooted in anti-worker sentiments and influenced by radical white supremacist ideology.

Great Replacement Theory

A conspiracy theory, the “Great Replacement” claims that corporations, governments, and shadow groups are trying to intentionally replace the “native-born population” (please note that this is in quotations, as whites (Anglo-Saxon-Europeans) are not natives to this continent) with that of higher birth rates of minorities, immigration, and multicultural policies. This is presented as a plot to replace the native-born population. This idea came from French writer Renaud Camus, and similar ideas existed under different names. The core claim asserts that immigration is replacing Europeans, despite the primary driving force being labor. That birth rate proves the replacement theory, as immigrants' birth rates have declined within 1-2 generations. Claim 3 states that the demographic change results in a loss of culture and rights; however, culture is constantly evolving, and rights are determined by laws and institutions rather than an individual's ethnicity. While we discussed the class analysis in Operation Wetback, it is important to note that this analysis is accompanied by racist tendencies from the white supremacists and fascists, who uphold reactionary views and attribute their social conflicts to ethnicities, affecting not only immigrants but also minorities. These white supremacist ideals have deep roots in European and American society and remain prevalent today, leading to attacks on immigrants not only in America but also in Europe by the dominant white majority, many of whom are working-class individuals misled by petty and bourgeois elements.

Chilling Effect

All over the nation, there have been widespread raids and arrests in immigrant communities. Two of the biggest cities hit and terrorized have been Los Angeles and Chicago, among others. As previously mentioned, these raids have taken place in public spaces, workplaces, street corners, markets, and other locations. The incident has heightened the fear that ICE can stop anyone at any time. Due to concerns about ICE activities, Latino cultural festivals have been canceled. Fear of ICE arrests is preventing families from sending their children to school. This trend has further kept immigrants secluded in their homes. They have skipped medical care, stopped attending public events, or avoided public spaces. Such behavior has limited essential services to immigrants.

Separation

When families are separated, kids are either left with a guardian or alone, causing long-term emotional or economic harm. The fact is that latinos are the prime target, and this type of terror is sending a message to the latino community. Here are some key data points:

“Latinos make up a disproportionate share of ICE arrests: in a recent analysis, around 90% of ICE arrests were Latino in the first half of 2025.” - Luskin School of Public Affairs

“A significant share of Latino immigrants avoid public engagement and civic participation due to immigration enforcement fear.” - Brookings

“School administrators report increased distress and absenteeism among immigrant students linked to enforcement activities.” - The Guardian

State-sponsored terrorism is subjugating the Latino community for these reasons. All due to a little man with an ego and his white supremacist goals, trying to also attack the immigrant working class. The policies require individuals who wish to immigrate to the United States to pay a fee for a legal pathway to enter the country, which isolates working-class individuals and encourages petty bourgeois and bourgeois individuals, especially wealthy Europeans, to immigrate instead, thereby maintaining America's anti-worker stance and favoring a pro-wealthy white population. We are inviting exploiters into this country who will take advantage of us by paying low wages to workers while they profit from us. The terror our communities are experiencing is in the name of big business and purity. Remember, Trump calls immigration an invasion.

ICE Immigration Enforcement and Latino Community

Impact:

Data, Legal Analysis, Mental Health Effects, and Case Law

1. Deportations and Criminal History

Independent analysis of ICE data shows that approximately 70% of individuals detained or deported had no criminal conviction at the time of detention, and roughly 43% have neither convictions nor pending charges. Many right-wingers argue that if an immigrant crosses illegally into this country, they have thus broken the law, but immigration status violations are civil offenses, not criminal crimes, under U.S. law.

No Criminal Conviction With Conviction

2. Scope of Fear in Latino Communities

Pew Research Center surveys indicate that approximately 52% of Latino adults worry that they or someone close to them could be deported, amounting to over 30 million people nationwide. Fear extends to citizens that have a mixed-status family as well as lawful residents.

3. Community and Mental Health Wellness

Research that is peer-reviewed has linked immigration enforcement terror back to fear causing elevations of depression, anxiety, chronic stress, and post-traumatic stress among the Latino community, including adults and children. Documentation of studies has shown a reduction of academic performance, increased sleep disturbances, and, in children exposed to threats of deportation or family separation, long-term emotional harm.

4. Allegations of Unlawful or Deceptive Enforcement Practices

ICE has faced hundreds of lawsuits alleging unconstitutional arrests, racial profiling, deceptive tactics, and due process violations. Courts have restricted ICE practices in multiple jurisdictions after finding Fourth and Fifth Amendment violations. ICE currently faces over 350 tort claims alleging civil rights abuses.

Cecot Deportations

Many undocumented immigrants deported to Cecot prison in El Salvador were innocent. About 55 percent of those immigrants have no criminal convictions and no pending charges in the United States at the time. Their only “crime” was having violated immigration laws. -The Texas Tribune

Out of the 238 deportees, only 32 had U.S. criminal convictions, and a majority of them were nonviolent offenses such as retail theft. - The Texas Tribune

Out of the 238 deportees, 6 had convictions of violent crimes. -The Texas Tribune

Furthermore, 75 percent had no criminal record in the U.S. or abroad. -Vanity Fair

Independent counts from journalist investigations

A detailed ProPublica investigation found more than 170 U.S. citizens have been held by immigration agents (ICE/CBP) against their will—including at times being detained, held without access to lawyers or loved ones, or held for hours or days. -opb

This could be an underestimation, as there is no formal federal tracking of U.S. citizens detained by ICE. Furthermore, around 20 children were reported among those held in detainment with their families.

Historical Government Accountability Office:

The GAO, or Government Accountability Office, collected data indicating that ICE actions involved 674 U.S. citizens who had been arrested, 121 who were detained, and 70 who were deported.

- Government Accountability Office

Despite presenting proof of citizenship, immigration authorities held Carlos Rios, a U.S. citizen, for a week in one of the confirmed cases. Another confirmed case involves Leonardo Garcia Venegas, a U.S.-born citizen who was detained by ICE agents during a workplace raid and violently restrained despite asserting his citizenship. Lastly, George Retes, another citizen and an Iraq War veteran, was detained by ICE and wrongfully, against the law, denied access to counsel for multiple days. These acts of “enforcement” are a mere illusion of terror being spread not just on undocumented immigrants but also on U.S. citizens, whether naturalized or born here.

These arrests are violent, as we've seen women thrown to the ground and the National Guard sent to enforce ICE's initiative. It is important to note that not just ICE has been conducting these raids, but the DEA and FBI have been in a supporting role helping ICE, apart from the National Guard. Authorities have assaulted and battered people, pointing guns at them. When the ICE shooter took the lives of two immigrants and injured another, ICE left the immigrants cuffed up in the car that was being shot by the shooter with no remorse for their lives, as the cowards that they are.

Hitler’s Mass Deportation of Jews

Parallels can be drawn between Hitler’s deportation of Jews and Trump’s deportation of Latino immigrants, not only due to the deportation aspect but also because of the underlying fascist ideologies in both cases. Both reasons for deportation were initially based on the false narrative that Jews controlled everything in Germany and were inferior to the Aryan race, while MAGA's belief in the Great Replacement suggested that Latinos and Hispanics would replace the white race. Fundamentally, both are based on white supremacy and defending the homeland from immigrants. As mentioned earlier, the essay also addresses the class analysis that views white supremacy as a symptom of capitalism, which influences politics, religion, news, institutions, and more.

The inherent exploitation of working-class people has turned the working class against itself, perpetuating the narrative that immigrants are taking away jobs. Nazi Germany was a prime example of this situation, as it pitted the "Aryan" German working class against the Jewish one. Among the working class, those who identified as Communists fought against the Nazis, while the petty bourgeoisie, bourgeoisie, and lumpenproletariat sided with Hitler and attacked the Communists. We don't have as many Communists in the U.S. as Nazi Germany did (and many other European countries also did), and even with their numbers they were arrested and gassed too. Most immigrants' material conditions have hindered their ability to fight back. I will now highlight the parallels between these two deportations.

Nazi Germany

Deportations of Jews were legal under Nazi law (Nuremberg Laws, decrees). The Nazis wanted to get rid of those they thought did not deserve to be in Germany and who spouted anti-Semitism by saying the Jews were a danger to national security. Laws stripped Jews of citizenship, due process, and rights before mass deportation. They manipulated the laws to strip citizenship from Jews and, under the guise of legality, deport them as undesirables. It is important to note that even though the Nazis called themselves socialists, their national imperialist nature dictated the type of identity allowed in Nazi Germany. Additionally, these national "socialists" introduced unregulated capitalism by collaborating with businesses and venture capitalists in the United States, which earned them favor within their regime. To normalize persecution, the regime emphasized legality. Like ICE, they use legality to normalize the persecution of immigrant communities. One community that has recently been targeted is the Somali community, where Trump has used the same language he employed during his first presidential campaign against Mexicans, citing a few undesirable faith actors to justify defaming the entire community.

Legality:

ICE under Trump

Using legality to normalize persecution Trump’s deportations are legal under U.S. immigration law, even when involving no criminal conviction and civil violations only.

Policies expanded fast-track removal, limited bond hearings, and used emergency or wartime statutes (e.g., Alien Enemies Act arguments that Trump used to justify the deportations). Like Nazi Germany, legality was used to shield moral responsibility (“we are just enforcing the law”). In parallel to both these regimes, the law was used to legitimize mass removal when those removed posed no public threat.

Targeting by Identity, Not Individual Guilt

Nazi Germany

Jews were targeted collectively, regardless of behavior. Their citizenship and law-abiding behavior were irrelevant; the only thing that mattered was deporting Jews from Nazi Germany. Although I consider identity politics an illegitimate form of analyzing historical materialism, identity itself, specifically being Jewish, was treated as criminal or dangerous. Moreover, working-class Jews faced discrimination due to the capitalism and Imperialism of Nazi Germany. Jews were not only said to be controlling the pockets of the German people. also taking their jobs. Guilt was inherited, not proven.

ICE under Trump

Immigrants of the working class have been targeted for “taking the jobs of born citizens”—especially Latino and Muslim communities. They were targeted through, Nationality-based bans,, has racialized enforcement patterns, and has created an environment where sweeps are affecting people with no criminal history

Again, many individuals who were deported had no criminal convictions; they only had status violations. This situation represents a clear conflict between the minority working class and the right-wing working class, which mistakenly believes that immigrants do not pay taxes, take advantage of welfare, and exploit the U.S. system, despite limited evidence supporting these claims.

Dehumanizing Rhetoric

Nazi Germany

Jews were described as “parasites” and “Invaders” to fit the narrative of the Imperialist Nazi Germany and their white supremacy ideology. They were perceived as having “criminal elements” that were not part of Nazi Germany morality and values. The dehumanization prepared the public psychologically for removal and violence.

Trump-Era Immigration Rhetoric

Immigrants in the United States are labeled as “animals,” “invaders” (the Great Replacement Theory), and “poisoning the blood of the country,” which ironically is a calling card to many Neo-Nazi organizations in the U.S. The rhetoric was manipulated to perceive immigrants as an existential threat, not neighbors or workers. The result lowers public empathy, and it justifies extreme policies that support terrorism among the immigrant communities.

Detention Camps & Deportation Infrastructure

Nazi Germany

Jews were rounded up into ghettos and camps and were transported by rail under armed guard
These camps were justified as “temporary” or “resettlement.”

ICE / Trump-Aligned State Actions

Immigrants are held in mass detention centers, tent camps and remote facilities such as Alligator Alcatraz (more on this later). The conditions have been reported as unsanitary, punitive, and extremely isolating. These deportations are framed as “relocation” or “public safety.” The bureaucratic detention, transport, and secrecy has normalized the mass removal of immigrants.

Public Apathy and Normalization

Nazi Germany

In Nazi Germany citizens looked away on what was going on because they trusted authorities and accepted gradual escalation as a result.

United States

In the United States deportations often are shown to the public as a show of force, while being framed as administrative. Thus it is ignored by the public unless a person or a family is personally affected.

Fascism: Alligator Alcatraz

Conditions Inside the Facility

Another terror tactic by Trump and his state sponsored terrorims through ICE is how conditions are in Alligator Alcatraz.

Harsh Physical Environment

The camp consists largely of temporary tents and chain-link cages with minimal permanent infrastructure. The Washington Post
Detainees are in a hot, humid Everglades swamp environment with mosquito infestations and extreme weather exposure. The Week

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene has come back with reports from detainees and former guards describing limited clean water, rain-soaked tents, backed-up portable toilets, and inadequate showers or hygiene supplies. The Washington Post
In some accounts, water and bathing opportunities are scarce or unreliable. The Week

According to Insects & Environment, people frequently mention persistent mosquito swarms and insect problems, which can lead to skin irritation and disease concerns. The Week
The facility’s location subjects people to natural hazards like alligators and other wildlife. Wikipedia

Food & Medical Care has reported that meals are of poor quality or served cold and that medical care is often inadequate or delayed. The Washington Post
Detainees have described delays in treatment even for serious injuries or illnesses. American Civil Liberties Union

Allegations of Abuse & Human Rights Violations

Amnesty International and other human rights groups have documented or alleged:

There is cruel and Inhuman Treatment towards detainees confined in tiny “boxes” for punishment or isolation. Miami New Times
Reports describe treatment that may qualify as cruel, inhuman, or degrading under international standards. Amnesty International USA
There is a Lack of Due Process where attorneys and advocates say detainees are denied meaningful access to legal counsel or face obstacles in contacting lawyers. Amnesty International USA
There are Disappearances in which investigations have found hundreds of detainees “disappearing” from ICE databases after leaving the facility, raising concerns about transfers or deportations without tracking. youtube.com
There are environmental and health risks; human rights organizations argue that the swamp location exposes detainees to environmental hazards, inadequate sanitation, and epidemic-level insect exposure. Amnesty International

Conclusion:

These conditions have brought fear to many immigrants. To be caught even if you are a citizen of the United States instills terror, while violence committed on immigrants reinforces the idea that you as an immigrant are not human and are not welcomed in the U.S. Commercials that encourage self-deportation further exacerbate a pessimistic outlook among immigrants, particularly Latinos. Hostilities towards immigrants have been created by events such as Operation Wetback, an anti-Mexican, anti-worker mass deportation perpetuated by white supremacist ideologies like the “Great Replacement.” Since Trump's rise to power, he has ordered state-sponsored terrorism against immigrants, specifically targeting Latinos for deportations, as a warning to even Latino citizens to remain in line or face harsh consequences. As we see it, citizens have been unconstitutionally detained, and some have been denied the right to an attorney. Thugs in uniform are threatening the latino community with violent attacks and deportation, while families, particularly children, fear separation. These terrorists will continue to terrorize our communities violently until we are either deported or dead.

Appendix A: Selected Case Law Involving ICE Misconduct

Galarza v. Szalczyk (2014): Federal court ruled ICE detainer requests are voluntary; unlawful detention of a U.S. citizen.

Morales v. Chadbourne (2015): ICE held liable for wrongful detention based on erroneous immigration status.

Roy v. ICE (2018): Court found warrantless arrests violated Fourth Amendment protections.

Gonzalez v. ICE (2024): Federal injunction limiting racial profiling and deceptive raid tactics in California.

Footnotes: