by Hannah Saunders
Image: A masked ICE agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Jan. 2026. Photo by Chris Rojas.
During a kidnapping on Oct. 25, ICE agents whipped their vehicle head-on at a concerned neighbor, and one pulled out and pointed a pistol at them from the side. They remained in their vehicle during the entire interaction, and followed legal observer training by the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN), which recently laid off all hotline organizers and rapid response staff.
“I was already leaving when (the agent) raised his arm (to point the gun),” the neighbor said. “It felt more like leaving a carjacking or a stickup. He was giving no orders or giving any indication that he was involved in anything legal. He was just a threat.”
That day, ICE agents were attempting to kidnap a community member near Key Bank. When the neighbor arrived, they remained about 30 feet away— then came the first interaction, which could have cost them their life. They were alone and had a dash camera, but were unable to safely obtain footage from the side.
“I’ve always known the risk was there. But I think it highlights exactly why we’re doing this,” they said. “ICE is escalating their violence and tactics with impunity. We’re there to provide visibility and accountability. This is why we need to show up for our community even more. What did happen or could have happened to me gets attention, while what’s happening to the victims of ICE goes unreported or ignored.”
After respecting ICE’s orders to create more distance, the neighbor continued watching, but the agents flipped their car around to, again, face them head-on. ICE jumped out of their car and threatened to arrest the neighbor.
“I may happen to be a citizen, but in my veins is the blood of immigrants, and it’s our responsibility to show up for our people. I don’t ever wish to be in that situation again, but I also cannot stand by while America fails an open-book history test,” they added.
Washington state is experiencing an “historic surge” in ICE kidnappings, according to a University of Washington Center for Human Rights report released last month. During a previous incident, ICE slashed tires and broke all windows after kidnapping a community member. ICE agents in Western Washington are becoming more aggressive, with one carrying around an automatic rifle, showing an escalation in willingness and desire to use force on Oct. 24
A community member who has witnessed abductions told TtS that ICE agents smash car windows in more than half of abductions, and puncturing tires has also been reoccuring.
“Multiple agents swarmed the car, boxed it in, slashed the tires, broke the windows, and dragged the man out, all while he wasn’t resisting,” the community member said.
In Burien, detainments are happening everywhere, they added. Roadways are very common, including near the 163 exit on I-5. Shopping areas, such as Castillos Supermarkets, Saar’s Super Saver Foods, and Home Depot have also had high ICE activity.
To push back against ICE kidnappings, people should organize with their direct neighbors, and reach out to the Washington Neighborhood Defense. Connect with Superfamilia to provide financial support to those who have been abducted and their families.
Leave a Reply