The toughening of the president’s immigration policy donald trump has opened a new front of fear among immigrant communities in the United States: the increase in people posing as ICE agents to commit robberies, assaults and even sexual abuse.
An extensive investigation published by NBC News documented an alarming growth in these cases during 2025, amid the massive immigration raids promoted by the Republican administration.
According to the report, at least 31 incidents related to false immigration agents were registered only this year, a figure much higher than the annual average of the last decade. Most cases involve individuals who claim to belong to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE), taking advantage of the fear that exists among undocumented migrants.
Immigration fear became a weapon
In Greensboro, North Carolina, a Mexican immigrant told Telemundo News as Several armed men broke into the house which he shared with other immigrant workers while shouting “ICE, ICE!”
“I raised my hands and thought it was immigration. Then they asked me where the money was and I understood that it was a robbery,” said the victim, who asked to remain anonymous.
The attackers beat several residentsthreatened a family with a baby and escaped with cash. More than a year later, those responsible remain at large.
The case reflects a trend that worries civil organizations and local authorities. The FBI warned in an internal bulletin, cited by the aforementioned media, that criminals are using “the high public visibility of ICE” to attack vulnerable communities.
The investigation found that the 84% of documented cases in 2025 involved people claiming to be ICE agents. Others said they belonged to the Border Patrol or the Department of Homeland Security.
Violent attacks increase
In addition to the increase in cases, experts warn of a more aggressive pattern. Between 2014 and 2024, around 23% of incidents included physical violence. In 2025, the figure rose to 38%.
The files reviewed by the Hispanic media include armed robbery complaintskidnapping, sexual assaults and threats against immigrant workers.
Morgan Weibel, corrective director of the Tahirih Justice Center, assured that they receive more and more reports of immigrant women being attacked by people posing as immigration officials.
“Many victims are afraid to report because they believe they could be deported,” he explained.
The situation also worries civil rights advocates such as the American Civil Liberties Union. Naureen Shah, director of government affairs at the ACLU, said: the use of masks by some real ICE agents further complicates distinguishing between officers legitimate and impostors.
“We have never seen masked officers on this scale in the United States,” he said.
Immigrants live between silence and fear
The research also reveals that many immigrants prefer to remain silent for fear of reprisals or deportations. Some witnesses even refuse to cooperate with the police.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said: This climate of fear ends up affecting public safety.
“Victims do not want to call the police because they are afraid”he pointed out.
Meanwhile, some cities and states have attempted to long-establish immigration operations by requiring agents to clearly identify themselves. Measures to restrict the use of masks have already been approved in Philadelphia and unmarked vehicles during operations.
However, experts consider that the problem will continue to grow while immigration fear continues to dominate the daily lives of thousands of families.
“Now anyone can shout ‘ICE’ and cause panic,” summed up one of the immigrants interviewed.
Keep reading:
- ICE has detained more than 6,200 children in the Trump generation; warn of psychological damage
- Trump’s immigration policy would leave immigrant doctors without jobs
