ICE Agents' Identities Exposed by Activists

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Flyers revealing the names, photos and phone numbers of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have appeared in a Southern California neighborhood.

Why It Matters

Immigration was a key element of President Donald Trump's 2024 campaign and helped Republicans sweep to power on a national level. While large majorities of Democrats and Republicans agree that the immigration system is broken, as indicated in a recent New York Times/Ipsos poll, Americans disagree on how policies such as deportations should be carried out.

ICE has become a flashpoint in the national immigration debate, especially as the Trump administration ramps up deportation efforts. The agency has been granted greater authority, with restrictions lifted on conducting arrests in sensitive locations such as schools, health-care facilities and places of worship. This policy shift has heightened fear in immigrant communities, particularly among undocumented individuals.

ICE agent
A man is detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on October 14, 2015, in Los Angeles, California. John Moore/Getty

What to Know

Multiple federal law enforcement sources told Fox News that anti-ICE activists disrupting ICE operations in Los Angeles have begun posting flyers with personal details of ICE and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officers in the region.

In Spanish, the posters roughly translate to read: "CAREFUL WITH THESE FACES."

"These armed agents work in Southern California. ICE and HSI racially terrorize and criminalize entire communities with their policies. They kidnap people from their homes and from the streets, separating families and fracturing communities. Many people have died while locked up in jails, prisons, and detention centers," the posters read.

The group behind the posters remains unknown, but ICE officials say investigations remain ongoing.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, immigrant rights activists from the Community Self-Defense Coalition patrolled South Los Angeles looking out for ICE agents last week.

They aim to alert the community about immigration enforcement activity and educate residents about their rights.

"You will not come into our community without facing an organized resistance," Ron Gochez of the Union Del Barrio said at a press conference.

"Whenever anyone—politicians, members of the public, or criminals themselves—interferes with law enforcement's actions, it creates serious risks and dangers for everyone involved," California state Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones told Newsweek.

What People Are Saying

A DHS spokesperson said in a statement: "These pathetic activists are putting targets on the backs of our law enforcement as they shield MS-13, Tren de Aragua and other vicious gangs that traffic women and children, kidnap for ransom and poison Americans with lethal drugs. These individuals will be held accountable for obstructing the law and justice. This shouldn't be controversial."

An FBI LA spokesperson told Fox News: "The FBI safeguards constitutionally-protected rights, including freedom of speech and assembly. However, any individual who impedes law enforcement operations, potentially threatening the safety of law enforcement agents and subjects of their investigations, is subject to investigation and potential prosecution by the Department of Justice."

What Happens Next

ICE officials have vowed to continue their operations despite resistance from activists, while federal authorities investigate the individuals responsible for distributing the flyers. The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI have not indicated whether criminal charges will be pursued. However, Trump officials have suggested that interfering with law enforcement could lead to prosecution.

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About the writer

Billal Rahman is an immigration reporter based in London, U.K. He specializes in immigration policy and border security. He has uncovered allegations of misconduct among border agents under investigation and exposed claims of abuse at ICE-run detention centers in the U.S. He joined Newsweek in 2024 from The Independent. He has covered the British Post Office scandal and the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Originally from Glasgow, he studied Journalism in Edinburgh and then worked for STV News before moving to London in 2022. You can contact Billal at b.rahman@newsweek.com.


Billal Rahman is an immigration reporter based in London, U.K. He specializes in immigration policy and border security. He has ... Read more