Editorial: ICE must leave U.S. citizens alone

Here is something all Americans can agree on, whatever their feelings on immigration enforcement: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement should not be harassing, let alone detaining, citizens of the United States.

Nor should that agency be harassing, let alone detaining, green card holders, officially known as lawful permanent residents (LPRs).

Yet that is what happened early Tuesday in Elgin, Ill., the Chicago Tribune reported.

Joe Botello, 37, a U.S. citizen, told the Tribune he was “jolted awake” and then handcuffed, questioned and placed in a Customs and Border Protection vehicle before dawn on Tuesday. Just to make it crystal clear, Botello was born here, the Tribune and other outlets reported.

Worse, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, or her surrogate, then shared a video of the operation on social media, presumably part of the ICE deterrence campaign to persuade immigrants in the U.S. without legal permission to self-deport. The video showed four men — one of whom appeared to be Botello — being handcuffed and led away from a residence.

Botello was released shortly thereafter. Nonetheless, Noem should have been more careful as to what was filmed and shared. She owes Botello an apology — you know, American to American — at the very least.

We refuse to accept the argument that some U.S. citizens inevitably will be collateral damage in such operations. That’s unacceptable. And it is clear from reporting across the country that the Elgin incident hardly was the first of its kind.

Before ICE engages in any kind of aggressive action, it has to be sure that its targets are within its lawful jurisdiction, which means the enforcement of the immigration and customs laws duly passed by Congress. If the agency is in doubt of someone’s status, it should not knock down that door or pull their hands behind their back, but move on until it is sure. There’s no excuse for getting this wrong, especially given all of the data at ICE’s disposal. In this case, the error was compounded by the posting of a shaming video … of a U.S. citizen.

We’re not challenging this administration’s legal right to enforce the nation’s immigration laws, even at a level of enforcement going beyond the removal of law breakers whom most Americans want to see deported.

We’re talking about simple competence. As would be expected from any government agency.

ICE simply has to know who it is targeting beyond any shadow of a doubt.

— Chicago Tribune