ICE Raids in America: A Closer Look at Public Reactions.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

Hey everyone, I’m Dr. Chelsea McGee, and welcome back to The Real 4-1-1. So, picture this: it’s July 4th, the day we’re supposed to be celebrating freedom, right? Fireworks, flags, all that. But while the country was busy waving the stars and stripes, ICE was out there detaining a city official. I mean, that’s not freedom—that’s fear. And it’s not just politicians. Last week, I had a patient who skipped her appointment because ICE was patrolling her neighborhood. She had to choose between her health and the risk of deportation. That’s the reality for so many people right now. So today, we’re going to dig into what the headlines won’t tell you: who’s actually profiting from these raids, who’s keeping quiet, and what democracy really looks like when it’s in handcuffs. Let’s get into it.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

You know, every year on the Fourth of July, we get this big, shiny narrative about liberty and justice for all. But if you look at what’s actually happening, it’s a different story. Take Brad Lander, New York City’s Comptroller—he was arrested by ICE just for standing up for someone facing deportation. He asked to see a judicial warrant, which, okay, there’s some legal debate about whether ICE needs one in a courthouse, but the point is, he was there to support a neighbor, and he got dragged away by masked agents. And then there’s Zohran Mamdani, who’s running for mayor in New York. He’s been openly critical of ICE, and the President—Trump—publicly threatened him. Now, there’s some back and forth about whether Trump literally threatened to strip his citizenship and deport him, but the intimidation is real. This isn’t just about one administration, either. The roots of this go back to post-9/11 policies—the PATRIOT Act, indefinite detention, surveillance. We built this legal architecture that lets the government sidestep due process, and now it’s being used right here at home. So, what does democracy look like in a moment like this? It’s not just about voting or waving a flag. It’s about standing up, even when it’s risky, and refusing to let fear win.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

Let’s talk about these ICE raids and how the public is reacting. There’s been a wave of high-profile raids—Boston, Los Angeles, New York—and the backlash has been intense. We’re seeing protests, curfews, even the National Guard being called in. But public opinion? It’s complicated. According to a recent Pew survey, Americans are pretty split. About half approve of local law enforcement helping with deportations, but a majority disapprove of suspending asylum applications or ending protections for people fleeing disasters. And when it comes to ICE workplace raids, 54% disapprove. But here’s the kicker: support for expanding the border wall is actually up, even among some Democrats. So, the country’s divided, and the lines are getting sharper. I keep thinking about that patient I mentioned earlier—the one who skipped her checkup. She’s not alone. People are missing school, work, even medical care because they’re afraid of being swept up in a raid. And the fear isn’t just among immigrants. It’s spreading through entire communities. The more aggressive these tactics get, the more people start to question what we’re really sacrificing in the name of “security.”

Doctor Chelsea McGee

Now, I want to shift gears a bit and talk about something that doesn’t get enough attention: the role of Asian American communities in all this. There’s been a lot of silence, especially from high-profile influencers, when it comes to these raids. Nathan Ramos-Park wrote a piece recently asking, “Where are all the Asians?” And it’s a fair question. Historically, Asian Americans have faced their own waves of exclusion and violence—the Chinese Exclusion Act, Japanese internment, the spike in anti-Asian hate during COVID. But there’s this pressure to keep your head down, work hard, and not make waves. That’s the so-called “model minority” myth, and it’s been used to divide communities of color. But here’s the thing: not all Asian Americans are silent. Southeast Asian communities—Cambodian, Vietnamese, Filipino, Hmong, Laotian—have been out there protesting, organizing, doing mutual aid. For them, activism isn’t optional; it’s survival. The challenge is breaking through the barriers that keep us from building real coalitions. Because if we stay silent, thinking we’re safe, we’re just giving permission for the next crackdown to come for us, too.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

Let’s follow the money for a second. Who’s actually profiting from all this? The private prison industry, that’s who. Companies like Geo Group and CoreCivic are basically rubbing their hands together right now. With the push for mass deportations, they’re seeing a “potential sea change”—their words, not mine. ICE has always relied on private facilities, but now, with new contracts and expansion plans, these companies are set to make billions. During Trump’s first term, the number of immigrants detained in private facilities hit record highs, and now they’re gearing up for even more. They’ve got thousands of empty beds just waiting to be filled. And it’s not just about the money. The human cost is enormous—people locked up in dangerous, overcrowded, and often inhumane conditions. And even as some lawmakers call for ending private detention, the reality is, ICE says it can’t function without these companies. So, the business of detention keeps growing, and the incentives to lock people up keep getting stronger.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

Now, if you think this is just about prisons and guards, think again. The future of immigration enforcement is all about tech—surveillance, data, AI. Palantir, for example, started out as a military intelligence company and now supplies software to ICE and other agencies. Their Gotham platform can pull data from hundreds of sources, track people in real time, and basically turn the country into a surveillance state. There are real privacy concerns here. After 9/11, we normalized a lot of emergency powers and data sharing, and now those tools are being used for things like workplace raids and tracking asylum-seekers. There have been protests against Palantir’s contracts with ICE, and even some of their own employees have spoken out. But the government keeps expanding these programs, and the lines between law enforcement and tech companies are getting blurrier every year. It’s not just about catching “bad guys”—it’s about building a system that can monitor anyone, anywhere, for any reason. And once that infrastructure is in place, it’s really hard to roll back.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

But here’s the thing—people are fighting back. Grassroots organizations, local activists, and even some city officials are pushing back against ICE policies. In Los Angeles, for example, we’ve seen massive protests, legal challenges, and even the city council standing up to federal raids. Groups like CHIRLA, the ACLU, and the L.A. Rapid Response Network are out there educating people about their rights, organizing hotlines, and providing legal support. And it’s not just in L.A.—we’ve seen similar movements in Boston, New York, and other cities. Some campaigns have actually led to policy changes, like limiting local cooperation with ICE or ending contracts with private detention centers. If you’re listening and wondering what you can do, start local. Support immigrant rights organizations, show up at protests, donate if you can, and most importantly, stay informed. Because real change starts with people refusing to be silent.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

On the legal front, there’s a lot happening, too. States like California are suing to block the use of the military and National Guard for immigration enforcement. There have been successful court rulings limiting ICE’s powers, and ongoing litigation over things like the suspension of asylum and the use of private detention. At the federal level, there are bills aimed at curbing executive overreach and restoring due process. But it’s an uphill battle. The Supreme Court recently narrowed the ability to challenge deportations in federal court, making it harder to hold the government accountable. Still, advocacy groups are fighting back, and they need public support. If you care about these issues, contact your representatives, support legal defense funds, and keep the pressure on. Because policy doesn’t change on its own—it changes when enough people demand it.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

Alright, that’s it for today’s episode of The Real 4-1-1. If you want more unflinching takes on American power and policy, make sure you subscribe. And if you know someone who thinks “ICE is just doing their job,” send this their way. I want to hear from you—how do we protect liberty when enforcement turns into repression? Drop your thoughts in the comments. Because, as always, the story is never just the headline. See you next time.