Waiting For The Ice To Melt
The United States was built on the premise that it would be a haven for people to practice their religion and spirituality freely. Slowly, it became a haven for those who desired an equal and fair government, instilling the democratic principles that the government relies on to this day. Yet the country that had promised freedom and peace attacks those who exercise their constitutional rights. The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has violated the morals on which this country is founded. Their presence has been made known throughout many major states in the country, their impact often more derogatory than helpful. Throughout this recent presidential term, deportation has been a term commonly used by the current administration. ICE has resorted to using harmful tactics in subduing those who are allegedly illegal immigrants. Many instances of these violations against constitutional rights have been recorded and publicized in the media. Yet the question arises of how immigrants and people of different ethnic backgrounds will survive in a country that is actively trying to remove them from their homes.
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was formed in 2003 as a branch of the Department of Homeland Security. This is the effect of the reorganization that began after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Before ICE existed, immigration had been controlled by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). After 9/11, many lawmakers argued that separating immigration enforcement from immigration services would bolster national security. ICE was later created and was given the authority to handle immigration enforcement, border-related investigations, and violations in customs within the United States. As the years progressed, ICE’s role expanded greatly, raising many debates, most predominantly about illegal immigration. Policy changes and new political priorities transformed the agency’s practices, particularly with detention and deportation. Presidential administrations utilized their executive power to reconstruct enforcement goals, criminal activity, and undocumented immigrants. Due to all of these factors, ICE has evolved into a highly visible and controversial agency. In modern-day society, ICE is a reflection of decades of political pressure, changes in law, and public controversy. This agency is an imperative symbol in ongoing discussions about immigration, civil rights, and the balance between human rights and security.
Basic human rights are essentially guaranteed in the Constitution, yet such rights aren’t being respected nor followed. ICE has been continuously criticized for practices that many argue violate constitutional protections found in the Fourth, Fifth, and Eighth Amendments. One major concern many people have is violations of the Fourth Amendment, specifically the protection against unreasonable searches and seizures. This particular agency has many accusations against it, claiming that individuals had been arrested without a proper warrant. ICE had been relying on civil immigration detainers rather than judicial warrants approved by a judge. In numerous cases, individuals had been detained on the basis of a mistaken identity or outdated information, raising questions about unlawful seizure. Similarly, the fifth amendment that guarantees due process, is allegedly being ignored by ICE. Numerous detainees claim that they were held for extended periods of time without access to legal counsel or meaningful hearings. This had hindered their ability to challenge their deportation or detention. The lack of legal representation, language barriers, and the removal proceedings had weakened the fairness of the judicial system, especially for immigrants. The use of prolonged detention has also raised questions about the Eighth Amendment not being followed, as the country has seen cruel and unusual punishment when dealing with ICE. Usually, civil detention centers have been described as “fair”, although recent detainees describe them as criminal. These facilities are extremely overcrowded, have inadequate medical care, unsanitary conditions, and harsh punishments. Numerous courts have seen cases where a detainee was denied medical treatment for a serious health risk, prompting many constitutional challenges.
Although the atrocities ICE has committed have impacted legal citizens of the nation. Renée Nicole Good was a 37-year-old woman living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she was shot and killed by ICE agents. According to law officials, Good was a legal US citizen and had proper documentation. Her death sparked national outrage against ICE and its brutish tactics to fulfill the current administration’s agenda. The media heavily publicized his death to bring awareness to the danger of ICE and the power this agency has. Additionally, many others, like Good, were shot and killed by ICE, and many of them were legal United States citizens. Yet their deaths aren’t as well-known, stemming from the fact that they were of ethnic origin or a person of color. The current administration has to take immediate action against ICE and instill rigid regulations to prevent more deaths from happening. ICE’s harmful tactics need to be evaluated and corrected based on the results.
Every human being deserves a place to call home. Every child deserves to have a stable and happy childhood. There should be no reality where a child has to grow up in a country where they are afraid of being persecuted based on their ethnicity. The current administration is receiving heavy criticism for its deportation tactics. Americans are enraged by the violence ICE has brought into neighborhoods and their homes. Past presidents and administrations had also deported numerous immigrants, yet Americans had supported that. Past administrations had deported criminals and rapists, while the current administration is deporting hard-working people, separating families, and resorting to violence to deport immigrants. The United States was built by immigrants from Europe, yet when people of ethnic origin or color immigrate to the US, they are discriminated against and often excluded from multiple aspects of the American dream. America has to realize that ICE is simply a stepping stone to a much more destructive abuse of government control.
Bibliography
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Jones, John E. “'We want you arrested because we said so' – how ICE's policy on raiding whatever homes it wants violates a basic constitutional right, according to a former federal judge.” The Conversation, 23 January 2026, https://theconversation.com/we-want-you-arrested-because-we-said-so-how-ices-policy-on-raiding-whatever-homes-it-wants-violates-a-basic-constitutional-right-according-to-a-former-federal-judge-274164. Accessed 31 January 2026.
“New Class Action Settlement Requires ICE To Stop Rampant Constitutional Violations For People Subject To ICE Detainers.” National Immigrant Justice Center, 10 February 2025, https://immigrantjustice.org/blog/new-class-action-settlement-requires-ice-to-stop-rampant-constitutional-violations-for-people-subject-to-ice-detainers/. Accessed 31 January 2026.
Preston, Allie. “The Trump Administration's ICE and CBP Have Become a Threat to Americans: Congress Must Ensure That DHS Follows the Law and Adopts Commonsense Reforms.” Center for American Progress, 28 January 2026, https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-trump-administrations-ice-and-cbp-have-become-a-threat-to-americans-congress-must-ensure-that-dhs-follows-the-law-and-adopts-commonsense-reforms/. Accessed 31 January 2026.