Florida volunteers document ICE arrests reaching record high in July

Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested nearly 50,000 people in July, marking the highest single-month total during the second Trump administration, with Florida and Texas accounting for nearly 20,000 of those arrests, according to data from the University of California, Berkeley. On Palm Beach Boulevard, ICE operations have been particularly active this week, with agents seen pulling people over and taking nearly all of them into custody. Videos captured by two local ICE observers, Jen and Glenda, show agents breaking the driver’s side window of a vehicle off U.S.-41 and forcibly removing the driver. “They’re absolutely terrified,” Jen said. Jen and Glenda, who asked for their identities to be shielded for safety reasons, document ICE arrests by taking pictures and videos, which they send to the American Civil Liberties Union for review. “They don’t even necessarily ask for your identification. They get out of the car, they snatch and grab,” Jen said. Glenda emphasized their role as observers. “We are there to document what is happening. Not engage. Not impede,” she said. The pair have documented dozens of cases, describing the emotional toll of witnessing vulnerable individuals being taken into custody. “It’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s hard. It exhausts us and angers us to see these vulnerable innocent people being often brutalized,” Jen said. ICE issued a statement Monday, saying, “Every day, DHS is conducting law enforcement activities across the country to keep Americans safe. DHS does not discuss ongoing or future operations.” When asked about the perception that those arrested are criminals, Jen said, “A lot of them do have papers and are productive citizens, and most are not criminals. They’re certainly not murderers and rapists.” Both Jen and Glenda confirmed they are unpaid volunteers. “We’re both volunteers. This is fully volunteer work,” Jen said. Responding to ICE labeling them as agitators, Glenda said, “We are the most peaceful, respectful, calm white middle-aged women you could probably meet.” The observers shared stories of families being separated, with U.S. citizen children left alone after their parents were taken into custody. “Even if we don’t witness it, we get word from families that the parent has been taken and the children are all alone and fending for themselves. And these are U.S. citizen children,” Jen said. Both women admitted the emotional toll of their work. “We cry. We cry a lot. I pray it will because it can’t go on like this,” Jen said. ICE has not disclosed how many people have been taken into custody during these operations. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.