Top of Mind Thursday – June 12, 2025: Cold as ICE

Across the country, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials (ICE) are conducting raids to capture and deport undocumented immigrants.

While the original intent was to deport dangerous criminals, it now appears many of these raids are targeted at any Latino immigrants—whether or not they have the legal status to be in the United States.

Video footage of anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles shows a Waymo set on fire, someone throwing rocks at police vehicles, and protesters scuffling with police. Next thing you know, the president called in the National Guard and the Marines to keep order.

From watching mainstream media, you’d think all of LA was on fire. But in actuality, the disruption was limited to a small part of the city and pretty much under control before the military arrived. The Marines deployed to LA appear to be sitting around, waiting for something to happen, rather than engaged in any important activity.

Meanwhile, similar protests have broken out in various cities around the country, including Seattle, Chicago, Omaha, Denver, Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Phoenix, Indianapolis, St Louis, Philadelphia, Columbus, Detroit, and Raleigh. While the administration is calling out California, many of these locations are in red states. Will the government send in the military to all of these places?

This morning, Alex Padilla, a US senator from California, was knocked down, handcuffed, and forcibly removed from a briefing in LA given by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Video of the event shows Padilla appropriately identified himself as a US senator before being dragged out of the event. His comment afterwards: If this is how they treat a US senator, can you imagine how they treat a farmhand or other blue collar worker?

We’ve had a problem with the border: That’s been resolved. We’ve had migrant criminals who came here illegally: They’re being deported. There are demonstrators who cross the line from free speech to hate speech and acts of terror: They’re being arrested.

Anyone who causes damage to people or property should be arrested and prosecuted. But right now anyone who is Latino appears to be fair game for ICE. Going after people because they are Latino (or any other ethnic minority) is not just inhumane and illegal: it makes bad business sense. And it makes you wonder who will they come after next? If it’s not you, is it someone you know?

If that thought sends a shudder down your spine, you’re in good company.

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