by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: Federal Agencies and Private Militants Terrorize Paramount, California — Protester Run Over

Police State

Paramount, California — a working-class, predominantly immigrant city — is now the latest flashpoint in a terrifying pattern of militarized crackdowns and unchecked aggression by federal agencies and private operatives. Residents report a surge of operations involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), private contractors like Blackwater (now rebranded as Constellis), and even rogue bounty hunters acting outside of constitutional limits. These forces have descended upon the city with military-grade equipment, assault rifles, unmarked vehicles, and the blatant disregard for civil rights that has come to characterize such operations.

The most horrifying incident came during a peaceful protest earlier this week, when a protester was run over by a federal vehicle. Witnesses state that the victim — a young activist marching against ICE raids in the neighborhood — was deliberately targeted. The federal agents present refused to offer medical assistance and instead formed a perimeter to shield the vehicle and its driver from public accountability. The victim was later rushed to the hospital by fellow demonstrators. No arrests have been made. No apologies issued.

Peaceful Demonstrator was hit and killed by ICE Agents when ICE Agents ran him over with a Federal Vehicle.

What is happening in Paramount is not law enforcement. It is a campaign of fear. Residents speak of pre-dawn raids, helicopters circling above schools, families pulled from their homes without warrants, and masked operatives demanding identification with no legal basis. Community members are being surveilled, harassed, and detained — not for crimes, but for the crime of existing in a system that criminalizes immigrants, Black and Brown bodies, and anyone who dares to dissent.

The involvement of Blackwater-style contractors and bounty hunters — with their long track records of war crimes, human rights violations, and total lack of accountability — only amplifies the terror. These groups are not bound by the same protocols and oversight as public law enforcement, yet they are armed to the teeth and deployed as if the community were a battlefield.

Where is the oversight? Where are California’s state leaders, the county supervisors, the city officials? Their silence is complicity.

Paramount is not a war zone. It is a community of hard-working families, students, elders, and everyday people who deserve safety — not occupation. No federal badge or military patch gives anyone the right to terrorize civilians, run over protesters, or treat neighborhoods like enemy territory. If this happened abroad, the U.S. government would call it a human rights violation. But on American soil, under the guise of “law enforcement,” it is business as usual.

We must demand an independent investigation into these operations. We must demand the names of every agency, contractor, and officer involved. We must demand justice for the protester injured — and for every family living in fear.

This is not democracy. This is a dystopia.

The people of Paramount deserve better. The nation must pay attention.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: The Illusion of Power — How Trump, MAGA Extremists, Congress, Billionaires, and the Media Pretend to Rule Above the Constitution

The US Constitution Under Siege

In a democracy, no one is supposed to be above the law. The U.S. Constitution was crafted as a safeguard against tyranny, a living document to protect the people from unchecked power. But today, we watch as a dangerous alliance of political figures, MAGA extremists, corporate billionaires like Elon Musk, and the mainstream media operate as though that sacred document no longer applies to them.

This unholy coalition of influence—driven by ego, greed, and authoritarian ambition—has warped the public sphere into a battleground where truth is manipulated, power is hoarded, and accountability is an afterthought. Their message is loud and clear: the rules don’t apply to us.

Donald Trump and the MAGA Delusion

Donald Trump and the MAGA Delusion

At the heart of this political circus is Donald Trump, the twice-impeached current president who now seeks to reclaim the White House while facing multiple criminal indictments. Trump has spent years undermining the very Constitution he swore to uphold—attacking the free press, threatening judges, attempting to overturn elections, and inciting violence against the government. His loyal MAGA base, fueled by racism, conspiracy, and a thirst for authoritarian control, now mirrors his contempt for democratic norms.

For them, the Constitution is not a guiding principle—it’s an obstacle to their power.

Congress: Complicit by Choice

Congress: Complicit by Choice

Many members of Congress, both Republicans and Democrats, have stood by in silence—or worse, in support—while constitutional protections have been gutted. Rather than serve the people, they serve donors, political machines, and their own re-election campaigns. They enable corruption, ignore abuse, and pass legislation that restricts voting, criminalizes dissent, and erodes civil liberties.

This is not leadership. It’s dereliction of duty.

Elon Musk: Tech Billionaire or Unelected Kingmaker?

Elon Musk: Tech Billionaire or Unelected Kingmaker?

Elon Musk’s rise to cultural and economic power has been accompanied by a growing belief that wealth equals authority. Whether it’s through manipulating markets, playing games with global communications platforms, or cozying up to authoritarian regimes, Musk acts like a sovereign operating above regulation. He exploits loopholes, silences critics, and positions himself as an untouchable visionary—while simultaneously dodging accountability and trampling the very institutions that keep democracy alive.

The Mainstream Media: Gatekeepers Turned Enablers

The Mainstream Media: Gatekeepers Turned Enablers

The mainstream media, once the watchdog of democracy, is now deeply entangled in this toxic web. Many outlets prioritize access over truth, spectacle over substance, ratings over responsibility. They amplify lies, normalize fascism, and treat insurrection as “controversy.” Rather than challenge power, they package and sell it. Rather than confront injustice, they report around it—leaving the public confused, misinformed, and divided.

Media should serve the people, not the powerful.

This Is Not Just Corruption. It’s Constitutional Collapse.

This Is Not Just Corruption. It’s Constitutional Collapse.

Together, these forces—Trump’s fascist ambitions, MAGA’s rage, Congress’s cowardice, Musk’s billionaire arrogance, and the media’s complicity—are leading us toward a post-Constitutional America. They believe they own the world. That their wealth, their influence, and their platforms place them above the law, above ethics, above the people.

But they are wrong.

We must reject this illusion of untouchable power. We must remind every politician, billionaire, and media mogul that the Constitution does not belong to them—it belongs to us. And if we don’t stand up now to reclaim it, we may lose the last threads of democracy holding this country together.

Power without accountability is tyranny. And tyranny has no place in a free society.

— Editorial Board

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: America Under Siege — How President Donald Trump’s Racist Agenda Has Turned the Government Against Its Own People

Trump’s Racist Agenda

The United States is facing a constitutional crisis unlike anything seen in modern history. Under the current presidency of Donald Trump, an authoritarian and racist agenda has taken hold, turning government institutions and private interests into tools of persecution. This is not speculation. This is the lived experience of countless U.S. citizens and minorities who find themselves targeted, harassed, and violated by the very structures meant to protect them.

ICE agents, bounty hunters, ATF operatives, FBI surveillance teams, the U.S. military, and agents of the Department of Homeland Security are being unleashed on American soil—not to serve justice, but to silence dissent, terrorize communities of color, and enforce a white nationalist vision of the nation. And they are not acting alone.

State, county, and city governments—many of them aligned with Trump’s extremist agenda—are enablers in this campaign. From local police departments collaborating with federal raids, to state legislatures passing laws criminalizing protest, every level of government has been bent toward repression. Add to this the involvement of corporate profiteers like Halliburton—whose contracts enable mass surveillance, detention, and militarization—and we are no longer talking about rogue elements. We are talking about a full-fledged system of control.

This is not security. This is persecution.

Immigrant families are torn apart in pre-dawn raids. Black and Brown neighborhoods are over-policed, surveilled, and criminalized. Protesters are tear-gassed, beaten, and jailed for exercising their First Amendment rights. Entire communities live under a constant threat of state violence, and the Constitution’s promises of due process, equal protection, and freedom from unlawful search and seizure are trampled daily.

The current administration’s fingerprints are all over this. Trump has openly celebrated law enforcement brutality, labeled political opponents as enemies, and stoked racial division at every turn. His agenda is not hidden—it is shouted from podiums, etched into executive orders, and enforced by the barrel of a gun.

Militarized ATF

This is how democracy dies—not all at once, but under the slow crush of sanctioned injustice.

What we are witnessing is not simply a failure of policy. It is a deliberate effort to turn the United States into a police state that serves the interests of the few, at the expense of the many. It is the transformation of the federal government into a tool for racial dominance, using fear and violence to suppress resistance.

It is unconstitutional. It is immoral. And it must be stopped.

Unlawful Raids, Racist Agenda, Civil Rights Violations

We must name it for what it is: State-sponsored oppression.

Now is not the time for silence or neutrality. Now is the time to resist—legally, politically, and morally. We must demand accountability from every agency, every politician, and every corporation complicit in this violence. We must protect and elevate the voices of the targeted. And we must fight to restore the Constitution to its rightful place as a shield for the people—not a weapon for the powerful.

History is watching. Future generations will ask what we did when democracy was under attack from within. Let the answer be that we stood up.

— Editorial Board

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: The Trump Administration’s Racist Policies in America.

The US President

The Trump administration signaled a hazardous intensification of institutional racism and xenophobia in the United States. The Trump administration turned immigration enforcement into a weapon of fear and control, disproportionately targeting immigrant, brown, and Black communities through policies such as the “Muslim Ban,” the separation of families at the border, and the aggressive increase in ICE raids.

This period has been characterized by illegal ICE raids, which frequently involve breaches of fundamental rights protected by the U.S. Constitution, notably the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments, and are frequently conducted without warrants or due process. These raids not only tear apart families, but also convey a terrifying signal that some groups of people, particularly Latinos, Muslims, and undocumented immigrants, are less deserving of respect or safety.

Illegal ICE Raids

Simultaneously, white supremacist language has been encouraged rather than denounced. In response to the Charlottesville march, Trump infamously said there were “very fine people on both sides,” and the administration refused to take a strong stance against violent hate groups, which revived formerly marginalized racist ideas.

All of this is completely at odds with the values that the Constitution professes to support. The Founders cautioned about tyranny, but under Trump, we see a government engaging in tyranny from within, using the machinery of state authority to infringe on the rights of the most vulnerable while protecting the powerful.

Orange County CA Lake Forrest Man Eric Walter Ramminger Arrested for hate crimes, racial slurs, Assault, death threats against a business owner.

The purpose of the Constitution is to be a living document—a protection for everyone, not a selective instrument used to support privilege while stifling dissent. Now more than ever, it is crucial to demand responsibility, defend human rights, and advocate for a real democracy where liberty and justice are assured for everyone, not just a select few.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: El residente de Lake Forrest, Eric Walter Ramminger, fue arrestado por el OCSD por insultos raciales y declaraciones de amenazas de muerte.

Eric Walter Ramminger, 54, Alleged Racist Individual.

Eric Walter Ramminger, un hombre de 54 años de Lake Forest, California, fue detenido por el Departamento del Sheriff del Condado de Orange tras un incidente que incluyó amenazas de muerte, insultos raciales y un ataque contra la dueña de un negocio y sus clientes. La llegada tardía de la policía al lugar se debió a las evaluaciones preliminares de las circunstancias y a la necesidad de garantizar la seguridad de los empleados ante las amenazas documentadas.

El arresto pone de relieve la creciente preocupación por la seguridad pública y el aumento de incidentes motivados por el odio en las comunidades vecinas. Testimonios de testigos presenciales indican que Ramminger comenzó a usar insultos raciales hacia otros antes de involucrarse en peleas físicas. Se informó que el dueño del negocio y algunos clientes sufrieron acoso e intimidación durante el incidente.

Racist Rants, Assault, and Death Threats.

Las autoridades policiales están contratando a Ramminger para investigaciones sobre diversos delitos, como lesiones, delitos de odio y amenazas. Se espera que próximamente se publique más información sobre las fechas de las audiencias y las posibles medidas legales.

Este suceso ha suscitado interrogantes sobre la gestión de las fuerzas del orden en situaciones peligrosas y la necesidad de una reacción rápida y eficaz ante actividades motivadas por el odio. Los líderes comunitarios abogan por la unidad y la alerta para condenar estos actos y garantizar un entorno seguro para todos los residentes.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: Lake Forrest resident Eric Walter Ramminger was arrested by the OCSD for racial slurs and death threat declarations.

Eric Walter Ramminger, 54, Alleged Racist Individual.

Eric Walter Ramminger, a 54-year-old man from Lake Forest, California, was apprehended by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department after an event including death threats, racial epithets, and an attack on a business owner and her clients. Late police arrival at the scene resulted from the preliminary assessments of the circumstances and the need to ensure employee safety against documented threats.

The arrest highlights the increasing concerns over public safety and the escalating rate of hate-motivated events in neighboring communities. Eyewitness testimonies indicate that Ramminger began using racial epithets toward others prior to engaging in physical fights. The business owner and a few clients were reported to have been bullied and intimidated during the incident.

Racist Rants, Assault, and Death Threats.

For inquiries on a variety of crimes including battery, hate crimes, and criminal threats, law enforcement officials are retaining Ramminger. Further information on court dates and possible legal measures is expected to be released soon.

This event has sparked queries regarding law enforcement’s handling of hazardous events and the necessity of a fast and efficient reaction to hate-motivated activity. Community leaders are advocating unity and alertness to condemn these acts so as to ensure safe surroundings for all residents.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: El ataque de la Asociación de Oficiales de Policía de Santa Ana contra CSO-OC revela una tendencia de engaño e intimidación

SAPOA – Santa Ana Police Officers Association
Asociación de Oficiales de Policía de Santa Ana (SAPOA)

El reciente ataque del presidente John Kachirisky a la Organización de Servicios Comunitarios del Condado de Orange (CSO-OC), encabezada por la Asociación de Oficiales de Policía de Santa Ana (SAPOA), no es sólo un ataque a una organización de base; es un ataque a la verdad, a la justicia y a las comunidades que se atreven a hablar en contra de la violencia policial.

El presidente de la Asociación de Oficiales de Policía de Santa Ana (SAPOA), John Kachirisky.

SAPOA ha vuelto a revelar su estrategia en su cobarde intento de desacreditar a CSO-OC y a sus líderes, incluyendo a David Pulido: silenciar la disidencia, difamar a las víctimas y mentir para proteger la placa a toda costa. No se trata de defender a la policía ni de proteger la seguridad pública; se trata de poder, control y la defensa de un sistema que, con demasiada frecuencia, oculta las irregularidades tras un manto azul.

El momento y el tono del ataque de SAPOA son reveladores. Ocurre en un momento en que aumentan las demandas de rendición de cuentas por el asesinato de Noé Rodríguez, un hombre cuya vida fue arrebatada durante un enfrentamiento policial que amerita total transparencia y justicia. Familias como la de Noé han soportado durante mucho tiempo no solo el dolor psicológico de la pérdida, sino también la agonía adicional de ser ignoradas, tratadas con irrespeto y quizás incluso calumniadas por quienes ostentan la autoridad. La acción más reciente de SAPOA es un intento deliberado de intimidar a quienes exigen un cambio.

Photo by: The Orange County Reporter / Departamento de Policía de Santa Ana

Esta no es la primera vez que SAPOA ha señalado a organizadores comunitarios. Han intentado repetidamente silenciar a las autoridades municipales, engañar al público y socavar a los activistas. Sus afirmaciones están meticulosamente redactadas con la intención de difundir desinformación y desviar la responsabilidad, una estrategia que busca proteger a la organización en lugar de beneficiar a los residentes de Santa Ana.

Sin embargo, no nos dejaremos intimidar.

Apoyamos a CSO-OC. Apoyamos a las familias de las víctimas de la brutalidad policial. Y apoyamos a todos los ciudadanos de Santa Ana que creen que la verdadera seguridad pública no puede existir sin responsabilidad.

La alcaldesa de Santa Ana, Valerie Amezcua, es una de las principales partidarias de SAPOA, que financió parcial o totalmente su puesto como alcaldesa de Santa Ana.

Los funcionarios electos que dicen representar los intereses del pueblo deben dejar de actuar como sirvientes políticos de un sindicato que prioriza la autopreservación sobre la justicia, y el Ayuntamiento no debe permanecer en silencio. Se opondrán a las tácticas intimidatorias de SAPOA y abogarán por la transparencia, la supervisión independiente y un cambio real si realmente les importan los ciudadanos de Santa Ana.

Noé Rodríguez merece justicia por necesidad moral, no solo por exigencia. Mientras tanto, seguiremos luchando por una Santa Ana donde la seguridad se base en la protección contra la violencia, en lugar de la intimidación de quienes han jurado servir.

Es hora de parar. La verdad no será reprimida.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: The Santa Ana Police Officers Association’s Assault on CSO-OC Reveals a Trend of Deception and Intimidation

SAPOA – Santa Ana Police Officers Association

President John Kachirisky’s recent attack on Community Services Organization – Orange County (CSO-OC), headed by the Santa Ana Police Officers Association (SAPOA), is not just an attack on a grassroots organization; it is an attack on truth, justice, and the communities who dare to speak out against police violence.

Santa Ana Police Officers Association (SAPOA) President John Kachirisky’s.

SAPOA has once again revealed its playbook in its cowardly effort to discredit CSO-OC and its leaders, including David Pulido: silence dissent, smear victims, and lie to protect the badge at all costs. This is not about defending police or protecting public safety; this is about power, control, and upholding a system that, all too frequently, hides wrongdoing behind a wall of blue.

SAPOA’s attack’s timing and tone are revealing. It happens at a time when there are increasing demands for accountability in the killing of Noe Rodriguez, a man whose life was taken during a police encounter that warrants complete transparency and justice. Families like Noe’s have long endured not just the psychological pain of loss but also the additional agony of being ignored, treated with disrespect, and perhaps even slandered by those in positions of authority. The most recent action taken by SAPOA is a deliberate attempt to scare the very individuals who are calling for change.

Photo by The Orange County Reporter / Santa Ana Police Department.

This is not the first time community organizers have been singled out by SAPOA. They have repeatedly tried to silence city authorities, deceive the public, and undermine activists. Their claims are meticulously written with the intention of spreading misinformation and shifting responsibility, which is a strategy meant to safeguard the organization rather than benefit the residents of Santa Ana.

However, we will not be cowed.

We support CSO-OC. We support the families of those who have been victims of police brutality. And we support all citizens of Santa Ana who think that true public safety cannot exist without responsibility.

Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua is a Primary Supporter of SAPOA that partly or fully financed her seat as the Mayor of Santa Ana.

Elected officials who profess to represent the interests of the people must stop behaving as political servants to a union that prioritizes self-preservation over justice, and the City Council must not remain silent. They will stand up to SAPOA’s bullying tactics and advocate for transparency, independent oversight, and real change if they truly care about the citizens of Santa Ana.

Noe Rodriguez deserves justice as a matter of moral necessity rather than simply as a requirement. In the meanwhile, we will keep pushing for a Santa Ana where safety is about being protected from violence rather than being intimidated by those who have taken an oath to serve.

It’s time to stop. The truth will not be suppressed.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: The use of masked bail enforcement officials by ICE during raids in Orange County raises worrying concerns about transparency and civil rights.

ICE Using Bail Enforcement Agents (Bounty Hunters) to do immigration raids in Orange County CA.

Although not in the manner that most people would expect, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has increased its activities in Orange County, California, of late. There have been reports of disguised ICE officers driving unmarked vehicles and posing as “bail enforcement agents” in order to break into homes. These practices have ethical, legal, and constitutional implications that require quick action.

At a moment when public faith in law enforcement is already waning, particularly in immigrant communities, these dishonest methods exacerbate public distrust and spread anxiety among individuals who are just trying to live their lives without the threat of deportation. Despite ICE’s history of employing divisive force to enforce federal immigration legislation, the use of covert methods typically reserved for fugitive investigations or high-risk criminal arrests should not be used indiscriminately against civil immigration offenses.

A troubling trend

According to neighborhood reports and eyewitness accounts, people come to houses claiming to be bail enforcement officials—sometimes without providing adequate proof of their identification or explaining the purpose of their visit. Some allege that they tricked residents in order to gain admission, but they only revealed their connection to ICE after they were inside. This deception has the potential to violate the legal restrictions governing search and seizure in addition to eroding residents’ trust.

The Fourth Amendment safeguards citizens against unlawful searches and seizures; in general, law enforcement must obtain a warrant before entering private homes. Nevertheless, it raises important concerns about whether constitutional rights are being violated in the pursuit of immigration enforcement objectives if officers deceive people about their motives or identity in order to gain entry.

Impact on Communities:

The economic, cultural, and social landscape of Orange County is significantly influenced by many of the diverse immigrant groups that live there. The secrecy and deception strategies used by ICE in enforcement actions contribute to a climate of uncertainty and fear. Parents are reluctant to enroll their children in school because they are afraid of running into federal immigration officers, workers are hesitant to go to work, and crime victims are wary of assisting local law enforcement.

This chilling impact puts pressure on ties between immigrant populations and local police, thereby undermining broader public safety measures. In addition, people who may have sought refuge from violence or persecution in their home countries are at risk of encountering new dangers in what they hoped would be a secure location.

supervisory and legal uncertainties

The growing use of veiled operatives and fake identities in enforcement operations indicates a concerning shift in strategy, even if ICE asserts that its agents are trained to follow stringent protocols. Serious questions arise about responsibility, monitoring, and openness if ICE mixes frontiers with bounty hunters or private enforcement officers.

The behavior of federal officials in residential settings should be carefully regulated, particularly while entering homes without obvious identification or court approval. Whether these actions comply with existing legal frameworks and whether the existing protections adequately protect civil liberties should be examined by Congress and oversight organizations.

The right and responsibility to seek answers lies with local authorities, immigrant advocacy groups, and concerned citizens. The heads of Orange County, California, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and members of Congress should call for a comprehensive investigation into these activities. If necessary to put an end to the misuse of deceptive law enforcement identities in civil immigration enforcement, legislation should be passed.

Communities should be aware of who is knocking at their doors and why. Law enforcement must function with transparency, respect for due process, and a focus on fostering trust rather than destroying it.

# Dressed as bail enforcement officers, masked ICE agents in Orange County set a dangerous example that puts the rights of everyone at risk, regardless of their immigration status, as well as the integrity of our judicial system. Strategies used to achieve enforcement outcomes that rely on deception and terror must be rejected by our community. True security is founded on justice, transparency, and respect for human dignity, not on fear.

Note: 

A controversial bill moving through the Mississippi legislature would allow bounty hunters — also known as bail enforcement agents — to target individuals suspected of violating state-level immigration laws, raising alarm among civil rights advocates, immigrant communities, and legal experts.

House Bill 1484 proposes the creation of the so-called Mississippi Illegal Aliens Certified Bounty Hunter Program, which would certify licensed bail bond agents and surety recovery agents for purposes of finding and detaining anyone in the country illegally.

House Bill 1484 PDF

Click to access HB1484IN.pdf

by The Orange County Reporter

Bài xã luận: Các cuộc đột kích của ICE tại Santa Ana và Shadow of Power nhấn mạnh đến tính minh bạch.

Các báo cáo về hoạt động của ICE tại Santa Ana, California, đã khơi lại các vấn đề về sự can thiệp quá mức của chính phủ, thiếu cởi mở và sự tham gia ngày càng tăng của các nhà thầu tư nhân trong các hoạt động thực thi pháp luật công. Mặc dù không liên quan trực tiếp đến các cuộc đột kích nhập cư cụ thể này, Haliburton, một công ty toàn cầu có lịch sử lâu đời làm việc cho chính phủ Hoa Kỳ, đã nêu ra những vấn đề đáng lo ngại về danh tính của những người phụ trách các cuộc đột kích này và động cơ khiến một số người tham gia che giấu danh tính của họ.

Sau những cáo buộc rằng các nhà lãnh đạo thành phố đã biết về các cuộc đột kích của ICE trước đó trong năm nay, Hội đồng thành phố Santa Ana gần đây đã thừa nhận những lo ngại về việc thực thi luật nhập cư. Những tuyên bố này cho thấy sự khó chịu ngày càng tăng trong số những cư dân cảm thấy họ đang bị nhắm mục tiêu một cách bất công theo luật nhập cư liên bang. Việc sử dụng danh tính ẩn và các hoạt động không xác định trong suốt các hành động thực thi chỉ khiến công chúng hoài nghi hơn và làm xói mòn lòng tin vào hệ thống.

Mặc dù Halliburton nổi tiếng nhất với các hợp đồng năng lượng và quốc phòng, chẳng hạn như các tương tác gây tranh cãi trong suốt Chiến tranh Iraq, nhưng công ty này không bị liên kết ngay lập tức với các hoạt động thực thi luật nhập cư. Nhưng có thể hiểu được tại sao một số người lại suy đoán về vai trò của nó khi tính ẩn danh trở thành đặc điểm của các hoạt động cảnh sát do lịch sử lâu dài của nó hoạt động dưới sự giám sát hạn chế của công chúng và mối quan hệ lâu dài với chính phủ Hoa Kỳ.

Nhân viên có thể bị buộc phải đeo khẩu trang trong các hoạt động của ICE vì lý do hoạt động hoặc an toàn, nhưng thông lệ này lại tạo ra ấn tượng về một quyền lực mờ ám, không được kiểm soát mà không có sự công khai hoặc trách nhiệm giải trình. Sự giám sát của đảng dân chủ là không thể khi mọi người không hiểu biết về những người ban hành luật. Mối quan ngại này trở nên tồi tệ hơn khi các nhà thầu tư nhân – những người báo cáo với hội đồng quản trị công ty chứ không phải công dân – được cho là tham gia vào việc thực thi pháp luật.

Mối quan tâm hàng đầu phải là sự công khai. Bất kể Halliburton hay nhà thầu nào khác đang hỗ trợ ICE, người dân Hoa Kỳ nên được thông báo về những người đang tiến hành các hoạt động này, những hệ thống giám sát nào đang được áp dụng và cách thức quyết định các chiến thuật thực thi pháp luật. Người dân Santa Ana và tất cả các cộng đồng bị ảnh hưởng bởi việc thực thi luật nhập cư nên nhận được câu trả lời, chứ không phải sự mơ hồ.

Những người giám sát và nhà lập pháp phải quyết định xem ranh giới giữa khu vực công và tư có trở nên quá mơ hồ trong các hoạt động địa phương quan trọng hay không và liệu các biện pháp bảo vệ hiện có có đủ để duy trì các quyền công dân hay không. Bất cứ điều gì ít hơn dân chủ đều nuôi dưỡng sự ngờ vực, sợ hãi và xung đột; mặt khác, dân chủ phát triển mạnh mẽ trong sự công khai.