Matthew Casey/KJZZ

Albert Carter

Leaders at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sent an open letter to the public this month warning that misinformation from activists and politicians can lead to violence.

The letter cites recent incidents in Tacoma, Washington, and San Antonio, Texas, where people opened fire on ICE facilities.

ICE agents are members of the community, they act professionally, and they treat the people they arrest with respect, said Albert Carter, acting field office director for the Enforcement and Removal Operations Phoenix Field Office. 

“For various individuals to say that we’re just out there, and we don’t have a heart, and we’re just arresting people at our whim, that couldn’t be farther from the truth,” Carter said.

Carter said if people see ICE agents being dishonest to make an arrest, they need to report it.

It’s fine to protest and record what happens in public. But Carter said anyone who interferes with ICE agents while they’re doing their job can be arrested and prosecuted.