The very controversial government agency, ICE, has damaged many immigrant families across the United States, by separation, often times permanently. Both Immigration Nation : Episode 1 (Netflix.com), and Think You Know Ice (ledger-enquirer.com) highlight the daily job operations of ICE, and the extreme impact they have on a global level. However, the Netflix series Immigration Nation captures the defensive side of ICE Police. The depictions of  their actions and justifications, adding further emotion to the series. It also grants the audience more than one perspective.

Immigration Nation: Episode 1 grasped my undivided attention from beginning to end. Each scene brings forth a narration of each character presented and compels us, the viewers, with the horrors of being detained by ICE, and deported back to their home countries. The background music during this episode is a kin to that of other crime shows, such as 48 Hours, 20/20, etc. A stand out scene during episode 1 is around 10:10, ICE Operation Day 2: Keep Safe, one of the officers describes his job as a great one that offers stable income. He also states that he is used to being called names such as “Nazi”. The first question that popped into my brain was, how can a person lack morals so much they would be suffice with breaking families apart for a living? I guess for some individuals, a price tag is all it takes.

Another pivotal scene from this episode is 17:34. ICE searches a family’s home early on the morning, and ends up detaining them all. They are referred to as collaterals. The collaterals are extra immigrants the officers weren’t looking for in particular, but ended up being searched and arrested, just for being at the same location as the intended target. Efran, ICE Fugitive Operations officer, drives one of the illegal immigrants to the police station. On their way to the station, the gentleman asks him a question that stood out. At 22:13 he asks Efran, “Were you born here?”. Efran replies, “ It’s really…irrelevant…at this point. You could feel the regret and pain as he responds. From observing Efran, you can tell he himself comes from an immigrant family.

Think you know ICE, captures the very cruelty that ICE as an agency embodies. From the melancholy music, to the illustrations, the viewer is able to understand the lack of Ethics ICE has. One is also able to see the many people oppose and protest against such negativity. The whole world comprehends the morally unjust tactics, yet our government seems to not care at all. Those of us who do care can only bring further awareness to this unfortunate reality, and hope for the best in the future.

Questions:
1.How far will one go just to “do their job”?

2. What exactly made President Trump reverse the Immigration Law?

Personal Rating: 5/5