U.S: THE PEOPLE AGAINST ICE. An uprising against the terror of the State
By Punto Rojo Editorial Collective
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Vehicle Scenes (ICE, For its acronym in English) fleeing under a shower of stones, bricks and all kinds of improvised projectiles by lines of people pointing at the immigration agents, so hated for the damage and terror they sow in their communities. An ICE vehicle on fire in the middle of an intersection surrounded by people setting off fireworks, taking selfies and even dancing on the burned out car. Crowds on an overpass throwing objects at police officers in their cars, breaking windshields and forcing them to retreat quickly with shields up. Rows of heavily armed police officers firing rubber bullets and tear gas into crowds of anti-ICE protesters with complete disregard and clear intent to injure and provoke, and people defending themselves with garbage lids, metal chairs and other resistant objects such as shields. Thousands and thousands taking to the streets to join the uprising, waving mexican flags, Central American and Palestinian, even with the Trump regime deploying National Guard troops throughout the city.
These are some of the images of the uprising against ICE in Los Angeles in June 2025, street confrontations between the most oppressed and exploited sectors of the working class and the heavily armed ICE agents—the American Gestapo.
ICE unleashed in the shadow of the imperialist war
ICE was created in 2003, in a period of great state investment in military and repressive capabilities after the attacks of the 11 of September. Then-President George W.. Bush—with broad support from the Democratic Party—launched the invasion (and occupation of 20 years) from Afghanistan in October 2001 under the name “Operation Enduring Freedom”. In his State of the Union speech 2002, Bush declared that the American State was beginning a global and generational “war on terrorism”, beginning with his intention to attack the nations of the “Axis of Evil”: Iraq, Iran and North Korea. He 20 March 2003, The United States invaded and occupied Iraq under the name “Operation Iraqi Freedom.”. Since then, Analysts have documented that the United States has carried out military actions—such as invasions, occupations, increases, drone attacks, special operations, targeted killings, military advice and training—in 78 countries, causing the death of almost 5 millions of people.
Although the 9/11 attacks served as a pretext, The US State had already been preparing for a new phase of imperialist war in order to reaffirm its military hegemony in the Middle East., Asia and other regions of the world. This was clearly expressed in the influence gained by the right-wing ruling class think tank known as the “Project for a New American Century.” (PNAC, For its acronym in English), that since 1997 advocated a more aggressive and interventionist international policy. PNAC promoted preventive war, regime change and neocolonial occupation to reassert “American primacy” against its rising imperial rivals and enemies.
Since 2001, military spending has increased dramatically, with the Pentagon spending more than 14 trillions of dollars to finance wars and occupations. This is the context in which the American State opened an internal front in its generational war, with the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In 2003, The American state—in a bipartisan manner—fused 22 federal law enforcement agencies under DHS, creating a powerful state repressive apparatus at the internal level. ICE was created to suppress so-called “threats to national security” within the United States., granting its agents broad powers and discretion to monitor, chase, detain and deport those they consider “individuals who represent a threat to public or national security”.
Since its origin, ICE became an exceptional law enforcement agency, licensed to operate without supervision, without accountability, and with total impunity. Its extralegal nature has allowed ICE to become deeply politicized, that recruits far-right agents, racist and violent, and that it is instrumentalized and used by reactionary and white supremacist regimes for explicit political purposes..
ICE as a weapon of class war and political repression
ICE was initially deployed through the “National Fugitive Operations Program” to monitor, arrest and deport Arab people, Muslim and Middle Eastern women from more than 20 target countries. Their focus then turned to Mexico's undocumented workers., Central America and the Caribbean after the massive mobilizations of migrant workers in 2006, where more than 3 millions participated in strikes, marches, boycotts and strikes demanding legalization. Between 2006 Y 2007, ICE carried out hundreds of raids in more than 100 cities and towns of the country, in factories, campos, homes and community spaces.
ICE was used to arrest workers organizing unions, They protested in their workplaces or in some way participated in the class struggle in various parts of the country.. Numerous undocumented activists were identified and persecuted for their political militancy. Through these operations and raids, more of 80.000 people were arrested and deported only between 2006 Y 2007. The State's objective in using ICE is to “neutralize” the movement of migrant workers through the mass detention and deportation of its most combative sectors., organized and resistant.
The state attack against the migrant and transnational working class has continued since then in a bipartisan manner, using the threat of arrest, detention and deportation to segregate, terrorize and precarious millions of immigrant workers. Under these conditions, it becomes more difficult for them to organize and resist, and are made more vulnerable to further exploitation to extract greater profits for the capitalist class.
The need to contain, Controlling and imposing permanent fear on the migrant working class as an integral part of the American capitalist system explains why both Republicans and Democrats have collaborated in strengthening ICE and the detention and deportation apparatus throughout successive administrations.. DHS has grown exponentially, going from a budget of 38 billion dollars in 2003 to an inflated budget of 103 billion in 2024.
Trump's budget proposal for 2025 (his so-called “great and beautiful law”), recently passed by the House of Representatives, includes 185 $1 billion in new funding for immigration and border enforcement. If approved, this would double the current DHS budget. Regarding ICE, will be allocated 45 billion for arrests and 14 billion for deportations.
Since the creation of ICE, The systematic persecution and deportation of sectors of the undocumented working class has become a structural policy (removals within the country, without counting expulsions at the border). Bajo George W.. Bush (2000-2008), more of 2 millions were deported; under Barack Obama (2009-2016), more of 3 millions, despite having been elected promising legalization; under Trump I (2017-2020), 1.2 millions; and under Biden (2021-2025), more of 400.000, with millions more expelled at the border, despite his campaign promising to suspend deportations and approve general legalization.
The repressive nature of ICE as an instrument against unionism and political dissent was recently evidenced when ICE arrested pro-Palestinian activists and sympathizers.. The high-profile arrests of Mahmoud Khalil and Mohsen Mahdawi—both legal residents in the process of obtaining citizenship—show how the state has expanded repression even to those who are not undocumented.. More of 1.000 people have lost their visas or immigration status due to alleged pro-Palestinian activism.
The use of ICE as a state weapon against the working class and political opponents of US imperialism and Zionism reveals both the depth of the state's legitimacy crisis and the level of violence it is willing to resort to to suppress dissent against the economic and imperialist goals of the US capitalist class..
Towards mass resistance and the abolition of ICE
Intensified ICE activities against migrant workers and political activists have been increasing over the last decade. Since the Obama administration, ICE has joined national surveillance and repression of protests. For example, DHS and ICE agents were deployed in multiple cities to suppress Black Lives Matter protests among 2014 Y 2021. And Portland, Oregon, Federal agents used unmarked vehicles to follow, kidnapping and imprisoning protesters during demonstrations.
Opposition against ICE has been growing in recent years. In 2017-18, A national movement emerged under the name “Occupy ICE” that blocked and sabotaged ICE operations in various cities.. This fight raised the slogan “abolish ICE” in a practical way: prevent its operation. His impact was such that even some Democratic politicians pretended to support him—Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand, Bernie Sanders—then retracted after the election.
During the electoral cycle of 2024, both Democrats and Republicans intensified their support for immigration repression. Without any alternative to the recurring crises of capitalism and imperial decline, Both capitalist parties agreed on a total attack against immigrants, refugees and transnational workers. The complicity of the Democrats in turning the political terrain against immigrants enabled the racist and reactionary Trump to escalate his fascist rhetoric, mobilize your support base (including ICE and Border Patrol) and declare war on immigrants as the central axis of his second term—with Democrats as accomplices or in silence.
So that the fight against ICE advances and hits harder, It must be extended with coordinated actions and militancy like the one experienced today in Los Angeles.
These past few weeks have shown the potential for a massive, combative resistance movement against ICE., the Trump regime and the entire repressive apparatus that supports American capitalism. In places like Worcester (Massachusetts), San Diego (California), Minneapolis (Minnesota) and other cities there have been community clashes against ICE raids. The uprising in Los Angeles shows that we have the number, the strength and capability to disrupt and defeat ICE operations, and expel these invaders from our communities.
The last weeks and days show the potential for a massive and combative resistance movement against ICE, the Trump regime and the entire repressive state apparatus that supports the American capitalist system. There have been several community confrontations against the ICE raids in Worcester, Massachusetts; San Diego, California; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and in several other parts of the country. The current uprising in Los Angeles shows that we have the strength, the power and ability to dismantle and defeat ICE operations, and expel these invaders from our communities.
So that the fight against ICE grows, advance and witness more blows and defeats to ICE, More coordinated actions of confrontation and disruption will be needed in more cities, with the combativeness that we are seeing in Los Angeles. This will require higher levels of organization, planning and participation. To build a mass movement capable of defeating ICE, it is also necessary to understand, strategize and organize for the total abolition of agency. Acts of massive disruption can weaken ICE operations and, with a radical organization and orientation, can inspire more sectors to join the resistance. More importantly, A mass movement against ICE can spread to the workplace with strikes capable of damaging the capitalist economy and, Thus, its own ability to function. The power of the working class to paralyze capitalist production is its greatest potential. A threat of a general strike in the airline industry in 2019 forced Trump to concede during federal government shutdown seeking to force Congress to fund border wall expansion.
As an instrumentalized weapon of class war, openly used against the working class, The very existence and continued terrorist operations of ICE are directly related to the need of the capitalist class to subjugate the most resistant segments of the working class and make them vulnerable to super-exploitation to enrich the capitalists.. ICE is also an increasingly used weapon to repress political dissidents and outspoken critics of the current regime., so that he can continue his imperialist war efforts and carry out the genocide in Gaza. If we manage to unite and build massive resistance movements against ICE, We will not only reach our potential to destabilize and stop it, but we can also become aware of our potential and capacity to defeat and overthrow the capitalist system itself., the one who has spawned the monstrous atrocities of ICE terrorism, Trump, American imperialism, endless war and genocide.
