The recent waves of protests against ICE (the federal immigration agency) are not simply social protests; they reveal a deeply fractured American society . According to Georges Mercier, a doctoral candidate at Sciences Po Paris, these events act as a mirror to the extreme polarization currently gripping the country.

Two sides, two realities

According to the analyst, political affiliation now dictates the perception of events. Interviewed on LCN, he emphasized that Democrats and Republicans no longer share the same interpretation of reality.

1. The Republican version: Supported by the White House, it often presents ICE interventions as self-defense. In the Renee Nicole Good case in Minneapolis, the official version states that the victim allegedly tried to ram an officer with her vehicle.
2. The Democratic version: Conversely, a large part of the Democratic camp sees it as a "public assassination" and denounces arbitrary methods.

An agency perceived as a "militia"

The divide is widening further over the very nature of the institution. According to Mr. Mercier, a portion of the population no longer considers ICE a neutral public service, but rather a private militia serving Donald Trump's political agenda .

This institutional mistrust explains the current standoff in Minneapolis:

1. The city's mayor is in direct opposition to the agency.
2. He is demanding a near-total halt to federal operations on his territory.

"We no longer agree on the fundamental facts." — Georges Mercier