How user-generated videos on social media brought Trump's immigration crackdown to America's screens
The videos of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids emerged just after President Donald Trump was sworn in to his second term. Chaotic and shaky, they spread across social media from all parts of the United States, depicting the new era of immigration enforcement.The following video collected and verified by NBC News represents a small fraction of the videos that have populated timelines across Tiktok, Instagram, X and beyond.
Warning: This report includes explicit and disturbing language.
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Philadelphia, Pa.January
NBC 10: ICE agents raid Philly car wash, immigration group says
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Worcester, Mass.May
NBC Boston: Video shows Worcester police hold girl's face on ground during ICE operation
Many of the videos followed a similar pattern: heavily armed authorities with little visible identification and often wearing masks detaining people, sometimes violently, and putting them into vehicles.
They spread quickly on social media and racked up thousands of views.
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Los Fresnos, TexasFebruary
NBC 23: Owners of Abby's Bakery in Los Fresnos charged with harboring illegal migrants
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New Bedford, Mass.April
NBC Boston: Woman speaks on ICE smashing car window to arrest her husband
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Los Angeles, Calif.
June
What started as a trickle has become a flood. Many — but not all — of the videos originate in Los Angeles.The video has stoked both outrage against and support for how ICE handles its mandate.
Trump and his administration have defended their enforcement efforts. ICE agents have broad powers, including, in some cases, to make arrests without warrants and limited requirements in terms of identifying themselves as law enforcement.
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Santa Ana, Calif.June
Credit: santaanaproblems
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Los Angeles, Calif.June
Credit: Isaac Torres
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San Antonio, Texas
May
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The Trump administration has stood by its enforcement efforts. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt touched on them on June 30.
Immigration has remained among Trump's strongest issues, with an NBC News Decision Desk Poll conducted from late May to early June finding 51% of Americans approving of his handling of border security and immigration.
Alice Marwick, the director of research at Data & Society, a technology-focused nonprofit, said the situation has reminded her of the videos of police brutality that changed the national conversation around law enforcement and triggered the Black Lives Matter movement.
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More recent videos have broken the wall between videographers and their subjects.In some, bystanders rush to document the situations and even offer advice on how to deal with detainment. Others have demanded that authorities identify themselves.
In at least one instance, a person recording a raid was also detained.
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Los Angeles, Calif.June
NBC Los Angeles: California union leader faces federal charge after immigration protest arrest
Credit: Martin Pineda
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Los Angeles, Calif.June
KTLA: Street food vendor clings to tree as immigration agents detain her in Ladera Heights
Credit: Aleca Le Blanc More from NBC News
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