The ICE Issue
- Raven
- Jan 17
- 3 min read
As we have seen over 2025, ICE has been taking illegal action across the United States of America. They don’t produce warrants, they don’t produce badges or identification, they act without due process, they refuse to acknowledge legal documents stating citizenship, they have acted against US citizens, their concentration camps are kept in poor conditions and often refuse official oversight, they act against anyone of color or with an unusual accent, and they act without due process against people in the process of legal immigration. ICE is Trump’s “gestapo” or “SS”, if that is not clear.
Have RLSH Fought ICE?
There have been some RLSH who have attended peaceful protests to show support for “anti-ICE” and “anti-Trump”. There have been RLSH present during marches or protests that have been openly fired upon by ICE (rubber bullets, paintballs, tear gas, etc). And, there is at least one, that I know of, who ended up arrested but the charges were later dropped.
Why Haven’t RLSH Fought Back?
Most RLSH are already trying to simply make ends meet while putting ourselves out there for whatever RLSH work we do (see RLSH Work: An Overview). Taking outright action against ICE is crossing a line for all RLSH. Defending an innocent person(s) against ICE is something that RLSH can get behind. In the US, you have the right to defend yourself and to defend others against “imminent threats, reasonable fear of harm, and in proportionate force to the threat”. The fact of the matter is: RLSH aren’t in all spots at all times.
It would probably make a big impact if RLSH made a splashy show of defending someone against ICE. It might result in their arrest and might affect their personal life. It's no one's call to make, except for that individual in the moment. It's a matter of weighing the PROs and CONs.
Legally Speaking…
ICE is supposed to:
Produce a JUDICIAL warrant (issued by a court), not just an ADMINISTRATIVE (I-200) warrant.
Comply with due process for citizens and non-citizens.
Properly identify themselves via badge.
As a US citizen, you have the right to (see Know Your Rights):
Protest peacefully (first amendment)
Right to due process (sixth, seventh, and eighth amendments) - the fair and equal treatment of lawful proceedings, a right to a trial, you have a right to an attorney, you must be informed of the Miranda Rights if arrested, you have a right to produce evidence for your case, and you also are protected from excessive bail, fines, and cruel and unusual punishment.
Defend yourself and others and property against threat of damage or harm through equal or lesser means.
Administer first aid, if permission is granted, to someone in need until EMS can take over.
Make a citizen’s arrest if you have substantial probable cause. It helps to have backup evidence.
ICE is a major issue because the are violating people's rights, not producing judicial warrants, not identifying themselves, not following due process, are harming citizens, have prevented medical assistance and first aid to people (such as Renee Good), and have repeatedly ignored official documentation or prevented people from retrieving official documentation to prove citizenship.
On an entire other note, if you are an RLSH, please take a moment to fill out this RLSH 2026 Demographics Survey. It's anonymous. Just looking to gather some general information to study. It will end up becoming an article after the end of the year.
The February "Notes From The Rooftops" will be about "Film/TV That Helped Inspired You and How" [as an RLSH]. Keep it to roughly 500 words. If you want to contribute (active or retired RLSH only), please send an email to Raven (raven@herocore.online). If I get no responses, then this will be the last of this feature. Deadline: January 31st
If there is something you would like to see me discuss here on Herocore, please feel free to contact me. raven@herocore.online
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