ICE agents detain a person during a sweep in Los Angeles. (Photo: USGovt.)
Donald Trump has a long history of advocating violence against political opponents and masked ICE agents are carrying out his wishes in cities across the country.
The heavily armed agents are instilling fear and frustration in a clear case of retribution against communities that Trump perceives as “disloyal.”
The most recent ICE surge in Minneapolis has been likened to a military occupation, although the U.S. military never engaged in ICE tactics during deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Border Czar Thomas D. Homan is leading the ICE campaign in U.S. cities. (Photo: USGovt)
If the pretext for ICE raids has been to round up illegal immigrants who have committed serious crimes — rape, murder, robbery, assault — then its mission so far has failed miserably. Based on its own statistics, 73% of those detained so far have had no serious felony criminal records.
But by their actions, the real goal is clear — to brutalize anyone who fits the profile of an illegal immigrant — mostly based on the color of their skin — and to deal harshly with anyone who protests.
Heavily armed ICE agents wear masks and hide their identies to keep from being held accountable for their actions, giving them carte blanche to racially profile, conduct warantless arrests and searches and rough up and illegally detain anyone they confront.
ICE agents are apprehending and detaining U.S. citizens, even after they have provided proof of citizenship, stopping people without probable cause, attacking those who have a constitutional right to film them and assaulting and arresting protesters who are peaceful — actions that are all blantantly unconstitutional.
If there is any doubt where they are getting their marching orders, look no further than President Trump, who has expressed his feelings through repeated statements urging violence and vilifying his opponents.
Here are just a few examples.
In Nov. 2015, Trump suggested a Black Lives Matter protester at a rally in Alabama “should have been roughed up.”
At a Feb. 2016 rally, he encouraged supporters to “Knock the crap out of them” if they saw someone preparing to throw a tomato, adding that he would pay for legal fees.
In March 2016, he told a crowd to remove a protester, saying he would defend them in court if they hurt the person.
By his statements, Trump clearly knows he is advocating unlawful actions by offering to pay legal fees to those who do what he says. But he didn’t stop there.
After his election to a first term, Trump continued to urge violence. During a 2017 speech to law enforcement officers, Trump advised them not to be “too nice” when putting suspects into police vehicles.
In June 2020, he clearly called for “retribution” and urged governors to “dominate” protesters.
During the 2024 campaign, Trump suggested that crime and unrest could be ended by “one really violent day” or “one rough hour” of police response.
Now that he is in office, ICE is carrying out the president’s orders faithfully — terrorizing communites that voted against him in the election. Again, his own words are conclusive evidence.
This past June, six months into his second term, Trump threatened to “rough up” peaceful protesters in Washington D.C., language that was viewed by critics as advocating for a “brutal police crackdown.”
Of course, Trump has no problem with civil unrest — when it’s coming from the right.
As soon as he took office, he infamously pardoned all 1,600 protesters convicted for their roles in storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 to halt certification of the 2020 election. They included protesters who physically assaulted some 140 police officers. But the hypocrisy doesn’t end there.
Renee Good, a Minneapolis mother, was shot and killed by an ICE agent in a highly disputed confrontation. (Photo: USGovt)
This month, Trump made clear he has no problem with protests per se if it serves his cause, by voicing strong support for anti-government protesters in Iran.
On Jan. 13, he posted on Truth Social, urging “Iranian Patriots” to “KEEP PROTESTING” and warning the Iranian regime of consequences for their violent response.
But, clearly, judging from the administration’s response to the shooting death of Minneapolis mother of three Renee Good, government violence is justified on the slimmest pretext.
Trump has been priming the country for domestic violence for years, demonizing political opponents and dividing the country with his divisive rhetoric.
In late 2024 and 2025, Trump frequently labeled domestic political opponents and protesters as the “enemy from within” and “radical left lunatics.”
The implication is clear; he is trying to paint any political opposition as a greater threat than foreign adversaries and has repeatedly threatened to use the National Guard or combat troops to supress them.
During the June 2020 racial justice protests in Washington, D.C., Trump reportedly suggested that the military or law enforcement shoot protesters, according to accounts from high-ranking officials in his administration.
In his memoir, former Defense Secretary Mark Esper wrote that Trump asked in the Oval Office, “Can’t you just shoot them? Just shoot them in the legs or something?”
Former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley corroborated these claims, noting that Trump urged officials to “crack their skulls” or “just shoot them.”
Trump reportedly initially demanded the military “beat the fuck” out of protesters and only suggested shooting them in the leg or foot after receiving pushback from aides, according to journalist Michael Bender.
For his part, Trump has denied the assertions, calling them a “complete lie” and describing Esper as “weak and totally ineffective.”
Trump’s thirst for violence was exhibited again during Congressional confirmation hearings for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
Senators asked whether he would comply with an order from the president to shoot American protesters. His ambiguous answer hangs over ICE protests like a ominous cloud.
It feels like our community is under siege by our own federal goverment,” State Rep. Michael Howard told The New York Times.
It may be only a matter of time before Trump gets his wish and sees protesters gunned down indiscriminatly in the streets, the same violence he is currently denouncing in Iran.
Only Congress can put an end to this madness. Let’s hope they act before any more U.S. citzens lose their lives needlessly.