Video Shows ICE Agent Striking Protesters in Phoenix

Protesters allege agent hit them with megaphone, causing injuries

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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A video appears to show an ICE agent repeatedly striking protesters with a megaphone during a demonstration outside a Homeland Security complex in downtown Phoenix. Two women say the agent hit one protester in the face, busting her lip open. The protesters have filed a complaint against ICE and are asking the Department of Homeland Security to investigate the agent's actions.

Why it matters

The incident highlights ongoing tensions between immigration enforcement authorities and protesters, raising questions about the appropriate use of force by federal agents against civilians exercising their right to demonstrate. It also comes amid broader scrutiny of ICE's conduct and tactics in recent years.

The details

According to the protesters, the ICE agent struck a megaphone out of one woman's hand twice, with the second strike hitting the other woman in the face and causing a bloody lip. Video of the incident appears to show a second ICE agent pulling back his colleague after the confrontation. The protesters were standing on state property that connects to a federal complex where ICE agents work.

  • The incident occurred last Thursday outside a Homeland Security complex in downtown Phoenix.

The players

Tera Sommers

One of the protesters who says the ICE agent struck her with a megaphone.

Denise Papst

One of the protesters who says the ICE agent struck her in the face with a megaphone, busting her lip open.

Paul Brown

A retired Phoenix Police Sergeant who reviewed the video and said the agent's actions do not appear justified unless the protesters were trespassing or posed a physical threat.

Department of Homeland Security

The federal agency that oversees ICE and is being asked to investigate the incident.

Arizona Attorney General

The state agency where the protesters have filed a complaint against ICE.

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What’s next

The Department of Homeland Security has said it will investigate the incident. The protesters have also filed a complaint with the Arizona Attorney General's office.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the ongoing tensions between immigration enforcement authorities and protesters, and the need for clear guidelines and accountability around the use of force by federal agents against civilians exercising their right to demonstrate.