A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer has sparked outrage after being filmed bragging about his six-figure salary while threatening members of the public in Minnesota. The confrontation occurred amid heightened tensions following the fatal shooting of protester Renee Nicole Good last week.
In footage shared on social media, the officer, wearing military-style clothing, a face covering and dark sunglasses, is seen warning passers-by: 'If you guys get in my way, we'll arrest you.' When one onlooker said she was a physician's assistant who had studied for seven years, he retorted: 'I went to high school, I get $200k [£150k].'
The exchange has drawn widespread condemnation online. One X user described the officer as a 'sociopath', while another commented: 'Them fed bois are getting paid well.' The incident comes as new recruits to ICE earn between $49,739 (£38,800) and $89,528 (£66,880) annually, according to the BBC.
Internal documents obtained by independent journalist Ken Klippenstein reveal that the agency is struggling to recruit agents willing to be deployed to Minneapolis. A memo from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Acting Assistant Chief Joshua Andrew Post called for volunteers, indicating resistance within the ranks. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has urged agents to maintain a low profile and adhere to use-of-force guidelines.
The shooting of Renee Good by agent Jonathan Ross has been labelled as justified by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and the president, but footage of the incident has been widely shared and disputed.
