Philadelphia’s sheriff harshly criticized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Jan. 9, denouncing the federal agency as “fake law enforcement” and warning that ICE agents who break the law in her city could face arrest. This reaction follows a controversial fatal shooting by an ICE officer in Minneapolis.
Sheriff Rochelle Bilal’s remarks came during a news event in Philadelphia, where she aligned with District Attorney Larry Krasner in condemning ICE’s actions. Bilal said ICE officers are “made-up, fake, wannabe law enforcement” whose conduct violates both “legal law” and “moral law.” She asserted that if ICE agents commit crimes in Philadelphia, they would be subject to arrest and prosecution, declaring, “You don’t want this smoke, because we will bring it.”
Her comments reflect mounting backlash to the case in Minneapolis this week in which a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot a woman during what federal authorities described as a ‘targeted immigration enforcement operation.’ Authorities identified the woman as Reneé Nicole Good, and the Department of Homeland Security has said the agent acted in ‘self-defense’ after the vehicle reportedly blocked officers and posed a threat. Many who viewed the video, including current lawmakers, disagree…