WASHINGTON, D.C. February 25, 2026 – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a blunt public statement Wednesday night, underscoring its core mission amid the Trump administration’s sweeping immigration enforcement push.
“Either you stand WITH American citizens or you stand with criminal illegal aliens,” the official @ICEgov account posted on X, accompanied by a 41-second video spotlighting the agency’s operations.
The message, which quickly drew more than 1,100 likes and widespread engagement, comes one day after President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address — the longest on record — in which he directly challenged Congress:
“The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”
Republicans rose in thunderous applause while the Democratic caucus largely remained seated, prompting sharp criticism from conservatives who called the silent protest a “confession of treason” and proof of misplaced priorities.
ICE’s post highlights the human cost of lax enforcement. The agency has intensified arrests and removals targeting individuals with serious criminal convictions, contributing to what officials describe as historic gains: the deportation of nearly three million illegal aliens, a 56 percent drop in fentanyl flows, and the largest single-year decline in the U.S. murder rate in over a century.
The timing also aligns with National Angel Family Day, proclaimed by President Trump on February 22 to honor American families who lost loved ones to crimes committed by illegal immigrants.
ICE agents, often operating in high-risk environments, continue targeted enforcement actions focused on public safety and national security. The agency routinely stresses that its priorities remain “the worst of the worst” — gang members, sex offenders, murderers, and drug traffickers — rather than law-abiding families.
The statement has ignited passionate debate online. Supporters hailed ICE for defending American sovereignty, while critics argue the framing presents a false choice between citizen safety and humane immigration policy.
About The Author
