[Riot. Photo Credit: Pexels]

In a documented incident on New Year's Eve in Los Angeles, Keith Porter Jr., a 43- year- old father of two was shot by an “off duty [ICE] officer” named “Brian Palacios”.

While Keith Porter lost his life, the ICE agent suffered no consequences of having to surrender his service weapon, to take a sobriety test, nor having to be taken in for questioning. 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) “defended the agent’s actions”, claiming the officer’s actions were justified due to Keith Porter’s violent behaviour. 

As no accountability is held, more alarming incidents occur that result in the death or physical impairment of innocent lives. 

On January 7th, a week after the death of Keith, a US citizen named Renee Nicole Macklin Good was shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis.

She was “a 37 year old mother of three and a US citizen” who was portrayed as a domestic terrorist that attempted to run over a federal agent. 

While video evidence from multiple sources contradict this accusation, Trump’s administration has supported ICE agents’ actions as an act of self-defense. 

This has led to an increase in protesters for the casualties of innocent lives and to hold federal agents accountable. 

While protesting, many have been injured in the crossfire of ICE agents through deadly weapons such as firearms and tear gas. 

Tear gas is a chemical weapon that causes “a stinging sensation in the eyes, and induces coughing, choking, and general debility”, a similar weapon to one used in World War I.

This unexpected use of tear gas on civilians has hospitalized several families, with reports of many children being affected and even killed.

Furthermore, on January 14, 2026, the Jackson family was “caught in the crossfire of” protesters and ICE agents in North Minneapolis.

The mother stated that her “six month old infant stopped breathing, requiring her to perform CPR on her baby, while other people tried to help her other children.”

The conditions of countless people affected by tear gas have not all been uncovered by the media. 

As ICE agents continue to use deadly methods, under the protection of Trump and the DHS,  more innocent lives are being threatened. 

ICE agents have yet to face any consequences for their reckless actions that have cost lives and caused immense grief for families. 

Public investigations have yet to take place and not enough identifications on ICE agents who have affected the lives of innocent civilians have been made.

These factors have contributed to a spike in deportations and self-deportations across the US. 

“Since January 20, 2025, DHS enforcement operations have resulted in more than 605,000 deportations” and “1.9 million illegal immigrants have voluntarily self-deported.”

These figures imply that ICE agents’ methods have spiralled out of control, with little to no consequences of murder or harm.