Citizens Urged to Observe ICE Officers' Actions

Columnist criticizes training for citizens to safely monitor immigration enforcement.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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A recent opinion column criticized a training session for citizens seeking to observe and monitor the actions of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officers, particularly in the Minneapolis area. The columnist argued that "legal observers" may not know the full context or histories of the individuals being detained, and could inadvertently shield "the worst of the worst" by making it harder for federal agents to apprehend them. The letter writer strongly disagrees, arguing that American citizens have an obligation to ensure their fellow citizens are treated respectfully, even by government authorities.

Why it matters

This debate highlights the ongoing tensions around immigration enforcement and the role of citizen oversight. While some argue that citizens should not interfere with law enforcement activities, others believe there is a civic duty to monitor government actions, especially when they involve the detention and removal of non-citizens.

The details

The letter writer takes issue with a recent column by Althea Cole, who described observing a training session for citizens interested in monitoring ICE officers in action. Cole was critical of the effectiveness of the training, and made a comment suggesting that "legal observers" may not know the full context or histories of the individuals being detained, and could inadvertently shield "the worst of the worst" by making it harder for federal agents to do their jobs.

  • The training session for citizens was observed recently.
  • Althea Cole's critical column was published last Sunday.

The players

Althea Cole

A columnist who recently observed and criticized a training session for citizens seeking to monitor ICE officers.

ICE officers

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents responsible for identifying, arresting, detaining, and removing non-citizens who are unlawfully present or have violated immigration laws.

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What they’re saying

“Chances are that 'legal observers' don't even know the names of the people their actions are designed to protect, let alone their legal or personal histories. That means that they also don't know if they're unwittingly shielding the worst of the worst by making it harder for the feds to apprehend them.”

— Althea Cole, Columnist (thegazette.com)

The takeaway

This debate highlights the ongoing tensions around the role of citizen oversight in immigration enforcement, with some arguing that citizens have an obligation to monitor government actions, while others believe that citizens should not interfere with law enforcement activities.