Long Beach, California — Saturday, October 12, 2024 — approximately 3:40 PM
An unmarked ICE vehicle hit a man riding his e‑bike in Long Beach. Witnesses say the impact was hard enough to break his arm. Instead of calling paramedics, ICE agents tased him twice, pinned him down, cuffed him behind his back, and left him on the pavement until he was taken to the hospital in serious condition. His daughter said he was blindsided by the car. People in the neighborhood said ICE vehicles were blowing through stop signs and driving the wrong way down one‑way streets. Kids were outside. Families were out.
Another man — a U.S. citizen — was detained for yelling at the agents from the sidewalk.
What ICE is Supposedly Only Allowed to Do
ICE is legally allowed to do the following:
Question people about immigration status
They can walk up and ask someone about their status.
Detain someone for an immigration violation
If they have probable cause for an immigration issue, they can detain that person.
Use administrative immigration warrants
These allow ICE to detain someone for immigration reasons, but they do not allow entry into private homes without consent.
Operate in public spaces
Streets, sidewalks, workplaces open to the public — ICE can be present and conduct immigration enforcement.
Arrest someone for an immigration violation Only if the arrest is directly tied to immigration law.
Use limited force
Only if someone is actively resisting or posing a physical threat, and only the minimum force needed.
Conduct surveillance related to immigration enforcement
They can observe or follow someone if it’s tied to immigration law.
Coordinate with local police
They can request assistance, though local police are not required to comply unless there’s a criminal warrant.
ICE is not legally allowed to:
Act like regular police
Conduct traffic stops
Detain U.S. citizens
Enter homes without consent or a criminal warrant
Use force on someone who is not resisting
Retaliate against someone for yelling or filming
Operate recklessly
Detain someone without actual immigration probable cause
Although these are the legal boundaries, ICE routinely does the things they are not allowed to do. They operate with pure impunity. Most people don’t know the limits of ICE’s authority, local police often won’t intervene, and internal investigations rarely lead to consequences.
Looks like any poc is a target for this kind of violence in the US. So folks, beware and be safe out there. Know your rights, because the US has become a country where laws are meaningless.
