This was previously published in our February 2026 issue.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, established by Congress to protect the residents of the United States. Since Congress granted these powers, 20,000 officers have been enlisted and more than 400 offices opened. However, due to the recent altercations between ICE and official U.S. citizens, The Stinger is beginning to question the amount of oversight ICE has and the essential point: Are we protected by ICE or do we need to be protected from ICE?
The mission of ICE is to secure the nation’s borders as well as to tend to the deportation of unauthorized immigrants found inside the border. After the events of 9/11, Congress granted ICE unique civil and criminal powers for national security.
In recent months, ICE has been dragged into the national spotlight because of its aggressive interactions with citizens. Protests, viral videos, and emotional personal accounts have drawn attention to the way the agency carries out its duties. These moments raise the concern that law enforcement no longer protects the public. The distaste towards ICE, as well as protests towards the agency, have even reached cities in the Lehigh Valley such as Allentown,
Bethlehem, and Easton.
Despite the state mandated murders occurring states away, protestors from Center City Philadelphia gathered on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day to honor King’s legacy and speak their truth. Other protests from October of 2025, resulted in four arrests, thus silencing their voices. Online websites such as
“Make the Road PA” have social media pages that continuously get the word out on anti-ICE protests to make sure all voices are heard. Much of
the controversy surrounding ICE comes from high-profile interactions that appear aggressive or unjust. One widely discussed case involved Renee
Good, whose interaction with ICE agents sparked public outrage.
On Jan. 7, a group of ICE agents entered Good’s neighborhood to find her blocking the officers with her vehicle. As officers approached her, Good’s wife and an officer began to record one another while another group of ICE agents walked towards the car before attempting to open her door.
Good began to turn right, in the same direction as an officer, and another agent began shooting as she drove away, thinking Good was aiming for his partner. Her car then crashed into a nearby telephone pole, but it was the shots fired that caused the death of Renee Good.
A statement from President Donald Trump labeled the shooting and death of Renee Good as self-defense. This incident, coupled with another shooting in Portland, Oregon, just a day later, caused anti-ICE protests to arise even more in the first month of 2026.
The actions of ICE affect more than immigration policy — they influence public trust, community safety, and the relationship between citizens and the government. Regardless of political beliefs, law enforcement agencies should be expected to take accountability.
Trust in law enforcement is essential for a functioning society. When communities fear ICE, they may avoid reporting crimes or cooperating with authorities, making everyone less safe. However, hiring standards need to be improved to prevent officers with previous misconduct from getting this job.
Meaningful changes are necessary to rebuild public trust. Stricter oversight of individual ICE agents by higher officers, thorough investigations into
controversial interactions, and improvements to hiring standards could help address growing concerns.
Legal consequences, such as lawsuits and investigations, should be followed more often in cases where misconduct is alleged.
Without transparency and accountability, tension between ICE and the public will likely continue. The government has a responsibility to be honest and genuine to the people of America.
The debate surrounding ICE is about more than immigration for The Stinger — it is about reliability, safety, and responsibility. Law enforcement agencies must earn public trust through fairness and respect for all human rights. Until accountability is taken, ICE will remain a symbol of the divided relationship between authority and the people it is meant to protect.
