Are you breaking the law if you film an ICE law officer in action? According to the DHS, you are.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) framed public recording of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as “doxxing” and “violence,” raising fears of criminal charges for people who document immigration raids.
According to the ACLU of Illinois, “DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin was quoted as saying that ‘videotaping ICE law enforcement and posting photos and videos of them online is doxxing our agents,’ adding that ‘We will prosecute those who illegally harass ICE agents to the fullest extent of the law.'”
In a statement this week, the ACLU of Illinois said DHS’s claims are flatly at odds with the public’s First Amendment right to record on-duty officials in public. The group pointed to ACLU v. Alvarez, in which the Seventh Circuit held that Illinois cannot criminalize audio/video recording of on-duty officers in public; Illinois’ eavesdropping law was later narrowed, and there is “no prohibition of recording police officers in public in Illinois.”
The remarks from DHS officials, reported by multiple outlets, come as federal immigration enforcement intensifies in the Chicago area. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has warned that ICE operations are ramping up and said federal agents have been staged at the Great Lakes Naval Station, prompting the postponement of some events and added security around downtown courts.
Local reaction has been swift. Chicago’s immigrant-rights groups have activated rapid-response networks, while the city highlighted resources through its Office of Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights. For residents who witness enforcement activity, the ACLU of Illinois reiterated guidance: you have the right to record from a safe distance without obstructing operations.
National Guard called off
Separately, the immediate threat of a National Guard deployment to Chicago appears to have eased. After days of speculation, President Trump’s announcement, “Chicago about to find out why it is called the Department of War,” has been scrapped. Following public resistance from Illinois leaders who vowed legal action if troops were sent here, he now reports that the next Guard deployment will target Memphis.
Pritzker said he was “glad” the White House signaled a shift away from Chicago, while cautioning that expanded immigration enforcement may still proceed.
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