A jacket resembling those worn by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents has become a best seller on Amazon, raising concerns about potential impersonations.
Newsweek has contacted ICE and Amazon for further comment via email outside of normal office hours.
Why It Matters
ICE has become a focal point in the national debate on immigration, particularly as President Donald Trump ramps up deportation efforts in his second term. The agency has been granted greater authority, with restrictions lifted on conducting arrests in sensitive locations such as schools, healthcare facilities, and places of worship. This policy shift has intensified fear within immigrant communities, particularly among undocumented individuals.
What To Know
The jacket ranks among the top sellers in men’s military outerwear on the platform owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos.
The fake ICE jacket is available on Amazon for $29.99 in black or navy.
There have been several reports of people impersonating ICE agents after Trump returned to the White House.
At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), a man dressed as an ICE agent admitted he had no affiliation with the agency. When asked by The Good Liars about his outfit, he responded: “It’s $29.99 on Amazon. I would recommend buying a small if you’re my size. This one’s a little too loose for my liking.
“But yeah, if you want some entertainment, wear this and go to a Home Depot in a sanctuary city like where I live right now, Washington, D.C., and you’ll see all the illegals. Not all of them, but you can maybe see a lot of them start to run away, and you feel like a group fitness instructor. It’s really good.”
When questioned by the host whether he found the situation amusing, he responded: “I think it’s hilarious. Absolutely.”
The host cut the interview and said: “One of the worst people I’ve seen here at CPAC, and that’s saying something.”
Police at Philadelphia’s Temple University are investigating after two students were accused of impersonating ICE agents at a campus business earlier this month.
Philadelphia police have charged a Temple University student in connection with the alleged impersonation of ICE officers on campus. The incident took place on February 1 when three individuals—two wearing shirts labeled “Police” and “ICE” in white lettering—attempted to enter a campus residence hall, according to a statement from Temple University.
After being denied entry, the group was later found causing a disturbance at a local business, the university said.
Authorities arrested 22-year-old Aidan Steigelmann, charging him with impersonating a public servant. Temple University stated that he has been placed on “interim suspension.” The two other suspects fled the scene in a light-colored SUV, according to Philadelphia police.
In South Carolina, 33-year-old Sean-Michael Johnson has been charged with kidnapping and impersonating a police officer after allegedly stopping a group of Latino men along a road in Charleston County. According to court records, Johnson is accused of “willfully and unlawfully presenting himself as an ICE agent and detaining a vehicle of individuals from moving.
The incident, captured on video by one of the victims, occurred on Sullivan’s Island near Charleston on January 29.
According to Pew Research Center data, an estimated 10.5 million undocumented immigrants were living in the U.S. as of 2020.
What People Are Saying
ICE previously said in a statement: “ICE strongly condemns the impersonation of its officers or agents.”
What Happens Next
The issue raises concerns about how such impersonations could lead to criminal activities and fear-mongering.
As the debate over immigration enforcement heats up, the rise of fake ICE gear and its potential for misuse highlights the need for stricter accountability.
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