Some sources in this story requested partial anonymity to protect themselves and their family from potential risks.

“It does not say ‘RSVP’ on the Statue of Liberty,” Cher Horowitz said to conclude her speech in the 1995 movie “Clueless.” Considering Cher’s words, we can assume all who come to America are here to “party”; however, they are capable of doing more than that — namely, crimes.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE] exists to theoretically keep us safe from foreign and domestic threats, but we should keep them accountable for their methods of doing so. The organization has recently come under fire for allegedly targeting people of certain ethnicities and spreading paranoia among communities in Southern California.

A Thursday, Aug. 21, Pew Research Center article revealed the amount of unauthorized entry into the U.S. shifted from 7.8 to 9.7 million in just two years, which many attributed to how the Biden administration’s policies fueled the Border Crisis. Since the White House’s announcement, during President Donald Trump’s second term, to “Manage Migration Throughout North and Central America,” the Pew Research Center reported the U.S. immigrant population “declined by more than 1 million between January and June 2025.”

To continue the deportation of illegal immigrants, Trump ordered, on Truth Social, for ICE to contribute to this campaign. Soon, people started to criticize these officers’ actions. This poses the question as to how this all affects us at Sunny Hills, or more broadly, in California.

THE HISTORY OF ICE

After 9/11, the U.S. became more aware of potential foreign and domestic threats; ICE was then created to protect the U.S. from these dangers. ICE consists of three operational branches and one managerial branch: The Homeland Security Investigations [HSI], Enforcement and Removal Operations [ERO], Office of the Principal Legal Advisor [OPLA] and Management and Administration [M&A]. Together, these organizations work to research, identify and deport undocumented aliens, terrorists and criminal organizations, as shown by ICE’s online archives.

According to the immigration enforcement’s historical records, HSI investigates criminal and terrorist organizations and can examine the movement of items around and across the country; in 2010, they seized enormous amounts of cash, cocaine and property from a major Colombian-based drug trafficking organization. The records also stated that ERO targets undocumented aliens with criminal backgrounds, and in 2018, ERO led Operation SOAR, arresting 32 convicted sexual predators.

According to the ICE website, OPLA provides legal advice and counsel to ICE and supports the prosecution and defense of ICE cases. OPLA handled the Ms. L v. ICE case, which provided for the return of family members currently and in the future. M&A is responsible for addressing the administrative and managerial needs of ICE.

IS THIS NECESSARY?

We need an organization that keeps our country safe in terms of foreign affairs, and ICE is the team for it. Unfortunately, law-breakers and those who disrespect their place of residency exist.

However, as MSNBC covered, some U.S. citizens were against Trump’s efforts to cut down on illegal immigration. People have criticized ICE’s tactics, including illegal profiling, aggressive arrests and refusal to identify themselves. 

The criticism escalated after the Tuesday, Sept. 8 Supreme Court ruling to reverse Perdomo v. Noem, which now allows immigration agents to stop individuals based on race or ethnicity, type of work, if they speak “Spanish or English with an accent,” or their “presence in a particular location” according to an American Civil Labor Union [ACLU] article that was released on the same day. This new change could possibly mark an uptick in prejudiced targeting towards certain demographics, which ACLU’s national legal director, Cecillia Wang, criticized as outrageous and stated they would fight for “our fundamental right to go about our lives without being targeted by government agents based on racial profiling.”

The outrage against ICE’s unfair tactics raises the question: Is ICE really necessary to this deportation plan? While arguments like “ICE tears apart families and goes after women and children, not the criminals” could be convincing, immigration attorney Joseph Tsang knows they are necessary.

“ICE as an organization has to exist … They are the only enforcement arm of … immigration,” Tsang said in a YouTube interview with ethics consultant Jason Chen.

While ICE does take a brute approach to Trump’s plan, they are necessary for illegal immigrants and criminals, like the Wednesday, Aug. 20, Fox News article report of illegal migrants who were charged with rape, aggravated sodomy and kidnapping of a woman from Oklahoma. 

Although not all illegal immigrants will break our laws, some will. Trump is right to deport people who are capable of committing heinous acts. To make the U.S. a better country, those living in it must reside honestly and abide by the regulations.

FEAR NOT

Our school district’s Board Policy on immigration, which was adopted on June 11, 2024, states its commitment to the success of all students regardless of citizenship or immigration status. It also says that in the district’s programs and activities, participants won’t be denied equal rights and opportunities or be subject to discrimination or harassment on the basis of their immigration status. Around campus, students seem to agree with the government’s right to deport migrants, but they have negative feelings toward such methods of removal.

“It almost feels like they’re kidnapping people,” said Pardo, who asked for only his last name to be undisclosed. “I don’t think deportation is 100% wrong, but only to the people that actually deserve it, and all the processes should be done in a good way; nowadays, they treat everyone like they’re criminals when most of them aren’t.”

ICE has cases of violence against those they arrest and needs to work on enforcing legal and humane procedures. On the other hand, we must make sure all residents, legal or not, keep the law, ensuring a safe country for both themselves and others.

“Most of the immigrants just want to look for opportunities for a better life,” said Ruiz, who asked for only his last name to be undisclosed. “While there are those with malicious intent when crossing over, the way ICE has done things hasn’t been great.”

Speaking of deportation techniques, ICE may wear masks but must identify themselves when asked, Tsang said. The Department of Homeland Security’s Public Affairs Assistant Secretary says ICE abides by these rules. However, news site NPR reported in a July 10 article that these face coverings are “undermining public trust,” which doesn’t help with cases of violence towards deportees and even to U.S. citizens.

The discrepancy between these claims signals that, though not all officers are guilty of unfair detainment and violence, some are. So, we can still support their efforts if they are lawful and humane. 

Regarding permanent residents, the official U.S. Code website states that any aliens, legal or not, can be deported if they violated a law, their status, a condition to enter or are related to aiding illegal immigration.

On paper, ICE exists to keep us safe; however, its actions have had the opposite effect on people. As for now, just follow Tsang’s advice: “Don’t live in a state of fear because it paralyzes the needed energy you need to live your best life.”