'No One Is Safe': ICE Accused of Detaining US Citizens as Immigration Raids Spin Out of Control

Footage from a Chicago suburb has reignited widespread concern over the conduct and scope of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. The disturbing clips show what appears to be a masked officer forcibly removing an 18-year-old US citizen, Evelyn, from a car while she protests her innocence. Despite her protests that she was not resisting, Evelyn was detained for hours and later released without charges. This incident raises serious questions about whether American citizens, not just undocumented immigrants, are increasingly caught up in immigration enforcement sweeps.

The Chicago Incident: A Closer Look

In the CCTV footage, a law enforcement officer dressed in dark uniform appears to yank Evelyn from the passenger side of a parked vehicle in a residential neighbourhood. The officer then throws her to the ground, pressing a knee into her back before handcuffing her. A bystander can be heard shouting, 'She's a US citizen!' The authorities later confirmed the incident occurred earlier this month during an ICE operation in the neighbourhood.

According to official statements, Evelyn and her friends were detained without charges and held for several hours before being released. However, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) disputes the account, claiming the footage pertains to a different case from a year earlier. Local media and legal experts, however, challenge this assertion, suggesting the incident matches recent patterns of aggressive enforcement.

Similar Incidents Across the United States

This case is not isolated. Reports from across the US reveal similar episodes. In South Shore, Chicago, an overnight raid on 30 September reportedly resulted in the detention of four children, all of whom are US citizens. In another case, Maria Greeley, a Latina born in Illinois, claims she was zip-tied and questioned for an hour after her shift. Officers allegedly told her her US passport was invalid because she did not resemble her surname.

Systemic Concerns and Statistical Insights

These individual cases reflect a broader and more troubling trend. A recent investigation uncovered at least 170 instances of US citizens being detained by immigration enforcement agencies during the first nine months of the current administration. Among those detained were minors and individuals with severe medical conditions. The report highlights that many of those arrested were held for days or even weeks without access to legal counsel or family contact, in some cases despite providing valid proof of citizenship.

Why It Matters: Civil Liberties Under Threat

While immigration enforcement traditionally targets individuals without legal status, the increasing detention of citizens raises critical constitutional and civil liberties questions. Legal scholars point to a recent case in Los Angeles, where a group of Latino Americans alleged they were arrested based on ethnicity or nationality. A federal court found 'a mountain of evidence' supporting claims of racial profiling, yet the Supreme Court permitted the practices to continue while the case remains pending. Dissenting opinions warn that such actions threaten the protections of the Fourth Amendment.

Political and Social Ramifications

The expansion of immigration enforcement—often involving local sheriff's offices, military-style task forces, and state agencies—has significantly widened the scope of sweeps. Critics argue that what were once targeted, intelligence-led operations have devolved into broader dragnet tactics, often with fewer safeguards for citizens. For those detained, the trauma can extend far beyond the immediate detention, including long-term mental health issues, mistrust of law enforcement, and a chilling effect on communities already vulnerable to racial profiling.

What Comes Next? Calls for Reform

Advocates for reform are demanding better oversight of US citizen detentions by immigration agencies, mandatory notification systems when citizens are detained, and restrictions on local cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

For now, the footage of Evelyn serves as a stark reminder of how, in the chaos of escalating immigration raids, the line between citizen and suspect can become perilously thin. As the controversy grows, questions around accountability, racial bias, and civil liberties remain at the forefront of the debate.