Listen to the article
Sisters Chelsea Kane and Courtney Azar are used to being calm in tense situations.
Azar served in the Army for 18 years and was medically discharged in 2023. Kane, a non-commissioned officer, was an infantry soldier serving with Special Forces in Afghanistan between 2010-2011.
The combat veterans both served deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and relied on their military training to not let volatile emotions cloud their judgement. But as they’ve embarked on peacefully documenting the conduct of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Minneapolis in recent weeks, Azar and Kane said they’re not seeing the same behavior from federal agents.
“We were trained to be cool headed under pressure,” Kane told local NBC affiliate KARE. “They’re not. ICE is not acting cool under pressure. They get angry. They punch people, they assault people. They throw people to the ground.”
Military.com reached out to ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comment.
Tensions over ICE’s immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities escalated last week when federal agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed local citizen and mother Renee Good, leading to nationwide protests and putting a renewed microscope on the agency’s conduct.
Azar and Kane’s concerns rose in December as ICE’s presence in the Twin Cities kept growing. The sisters began documenting the agency’s actions after Good’s death, mostly through cellphone video, to buck an online narrative that observers were interfering with federal operations.
“When we went over there, we were told that we were defending our country and our countrymen’s constitutional rights,” Kane said. “Now, to have ICE and (Customs and Border Patrol) going door to door knocking, asking people for papers and random snatch and grabs on the street, it’s literally everything that we fought against; it’s everything that I was told I was defending against, and it’s here in our streets.”
Body Cameras ‘Keep People Safe’
Azar said some immigration enforcement leaders and supporters of ICE are trying to portray non-violent observers in a negative light.
“They’re trying to paint (observers) as violent radicals and violent protesters and stuff and we’re moms, we’re veterans, we’re farmers.”
Azar also wonders why ICE agents are not required to wear body cameras like police are required in many U.S cities.
“We’re trying to keep ICE and Border Patrol accountable to their actions,” Azar said. “We know that body cams and footage recording do keep people safe. That’s why police are required to wear body cams.
“Why aren’t they at least doing that barebones minimum? That’s the biggest question that I have for ICE.”
Since Good was killed, the veteran sisters said they’ve documented more allegedly aggressive tactics from ICE, such as randomly detaining Minneapolis residents, driving them around, and releasing them later.
“That’s the thing that we have seen more and more,” Kane said. “They’re doing random arrests. They’re not doing warranted searches, they’re not doing warranted arrests, they’re not going after illegals, they’re going after anyone who looks like an ‘other.’”
Since early January, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reportedly sent more than 2,000 additional ICE agents to the Twin Cities, along with about 600 DHS officers, to investigate alleged fraud in daycares operated by Somali immigrants.
On Sunday, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem told Fox News she plans to deploy “hundreds more” ICE agents to Minneapolis with emotions on an all-time high following last week’s fatal shooting.
More Documentation to Stay ‘Safe’
Azar insists she’s not impeding in federal oversight and investigations.
“I’m behind them. I’m giving them a wide berth,” Azar said. “You know, like, I’m staying out of the way.”
While even peaceful demonstrations can escalate, the sisters added that they’re not worried if ICE agents respond with force.
“We have the training to deescalate so that’s what we do is, we’re gonna keep going out,” Kane said. “We’re going to keep documenting them to keep our neighbors safe, to keep that aggression from increasing.”
Azar echoed her sister’s words, saying any information they document in their community will be provided to state and local law enforcement.
“If it is illegal, then the state will come for me,” Azar said. “I completely stand by everything that I’m doing. I’m observing. I’m there to make sure that our community is remaining safe, and I intend to do that for as long as ICE is here.”
Read the full article here
25 Comments
I’m supportive of the sisters’ efforts to buck the negative narrative surrounding observers and to show that they are peaceful and concerned citizens who care about human rights and dignity.
I’m supportive of the sisters’ efforts to hold ICE accountable for their actions and to push for policy changes that prioritize human rights and dignity.
I’m skeptical about the claim that ICE agents are acting aggressively, as the article states that they’re getting angry and punching people, but I’d like to see more evidence to support this.
There have been multiple reports and videos of ICE agents using excessive force, so it’s not just the sisters’ claims that are raising concerns.
The sisters’ use of cellphone video to document ICE’s actions is a powerful tool for holding them accountable, and it’s essential that they continue to do so to ensure that the truth is revealed.
The article raises important questions about the role of ICE in enforcing immigration laws and the need for greater accountability and transparency within the agency.
I’m curious to know more about the online narrative that observers are interfering with federal operations, as mentioned in the article, and how this is impacting the situation in the Twin Cities.
It’s likely that this narrative is being pushed by ICE supporters to discredit the peaceful observers and justify their aggressive actions.
The article highlights the need for a more nuanced and informed discussion about immigration enforcement and the role of ICE in upholding human rights and dignity.
The sisters’ experience as moms and veterans adds a unique perspective to the issue, and it’s essential to listen to their concerns and take them seriously.
The fact that the sisters served deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and are now using their skills to document ICE’s actions in Minneapolis is a testament to their dedication to serving their country and upholding its values.
The fact that ICE agents are not required to wear body cameras like police are in many US cities is concerning, as Chelsea Kane and Courtney Azar pointed out, and it’s surprising that this isn’t a standard practice for federal agents.
The sisters’ experience as Army combat veterans and their training to remain calm under pressure is impressive, and it’s interesting that they’re using this skill to document ICE’s actions in Minneapolis.
The fact that the sisters are using their military training to document ICE’s actions is a powerful statement about the importance of accountability and transparency in law enforcement.
The article highlights the importance of body cameras in keeping people safe, and it’s surprising that ICE agents are not required to wear them, given the potential for abuse of power.
The death of Renee Good, a local citizen and mother, at the hands of federal agent Jonathan Ross, is a tragic incident that highlights the need for greater accountability and transparency within ICE.
I’m concerned about the impact of ICE’s actions on the community, particularly the random detaining of Minneapolis residents, driving them around, and releasing them later, as this can be traumatic and disruptive to people’s lives.
The fact that ICE agents are going door-to-door, asking people for papers, and conducting random snatch and grabs on the street is alarming and raises concerns about civil liberties.
I’m concerned about the potential for violence and aggression from ICE agents, as reported in the article, and I believe that it’s essential to take steps to prevent such incidents in the future.
The article mentions that tensions over ICE’s immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities escalated last week, but I’d like to know more about the events leading up to this escalation and how the community is responding.
The community is organizing protests and rallies to demand greater accountability and transparency from ICE, and to push for policy changes that prioritize human rights and dignity.
As someone who has experienced the impact of immigration enforcement firsthand, I appreciate the sisters’ commitment to documenting ICE’s actions and pushing for greater accountability and transparency.
I’m curious to know more about the Department of Homeland Security’s response to the sisters’ concerns and the steps they are taking to address the issues raised in the article.
The DHS has not yet responded to the sisters’ concerns, but it’s essential that they take these allegations seriously and take immediate action to address them.
As a veteran myself, I appreciate the sisters’ commitment to defending constitutional rights and holding ICE accountable for their actions, and I believe that their efforts will help to bring about positive change.