On ICE and Hudson Gun Club
This letter to the editor, by Laurie Harmon, appeared in the Hudson Star Observer on December 4, 2025.
I dislike generalizations. They oversimplify and present a biased perspective. For instance, the official government website for ICE states: “America has been invaded by criminals and predators. We need YOU to get them out.” That inflammatory statement and its premise — that all immigrants are criminals — has fueled the violence, hatred and terror performed by ICE in recent months.
People say, “They are here illegally, which makes them criminals,” as a rationale for ICE’s approach. There’s one big problem with that statement: it’s not a felony to be an “illegal alien,” or enter the country without permission, according to 8 U.S. Code §1325. In most cases, it’s a misdemeanor.
Trump and his administration, however, continue to equate “immigrants” with “criminals,” failing to make the distinction between those seeking safety and refuge from those coming here for more sinister purposes. Trump promised to get “the worst of the worst” off the streets, but instead of chasing the real “criminals and predators,” ICE raids job sites, schools, daycares, churches, courts, etc., where decent, hard-working people are just trying to make a better life and even go through the correct immigration channels.
In short, ICE looks for easy targets, then treats them like hardened criminals. Why? Because they are empowered with guns and masks, fueled by hatred and bigotry and need a quick way to fulfill a ridiculous, dangerous quota. They don’t care about our safety or getting criminals off the street.
It’s true that other administrations employed ICE agents. Politico reports the Obama administration’s version of ICE usually included “carefully selected” operations that focused on people that they “knew had a criminal history,” and that “there was a lot of research and investigation done” before an “actual arrest” was made.
Conversely, Kristi Noem’s ICE isn’t doing its research. According to a recent CBS News article, only 16 of the 607 detainees in Chicago’s Broadview Detention Center had criminal records. No felonies. No violent crimes.
Committing atrocities, detaining people in inhumane conditions and generally spreading fear is the real crime. Their “smash and grab,” “shoot first, ask questions later” approach has caused unimaginable physical, psychological and emotional damage to Americans and immigrants alike.
ICE has become a homegrown terrorist organization, fueled by racism and hatred and populated with vigilantes and masked “guns for hire.” Instead of making us safer, ICE continues to terrorize immigrants and citizens indiscriminately.
ICE degrades our humanity as a nation. There is no due process, no warrants, no logic, no understanding, no humanity.
I want to believe we are better than this, kinder, more humane. Let’s take the time to recognize the difference and not turn into what we are seeking to eradicate.