ICE Faces Outrage After Parading Portland Protester on Hand Truck — “This Is Taxpayer-Funded Gaslighting”
PORTLAND, OR – Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is facing intense criticism after posting a viral video showing federal agents hauling a Portland protester on a trolley hand truck as he screamed in pain — a scene many called “dehumanizing” and “state-sponsored trolling.”
The official @ICEgov account on X (formerly Twitter) posted the video on October 5, captioned:
“Refuse to walk? We’ll give you a ride.”
The 18-second clip showed the man handcuffed, gagging, and visibly in distress while being wheeled away like freight by officers. The video even included “Ridin’” by Chamillionaire — a 2006 song widely recognized as a critique of racial profiling and police brutality.
The video was meant to serve as a “warning” to protesters ahead of planned weekend demonstrations in Portland, but it immediately backfired, drawing millions of angry responses online.
PORTLAND — Refuse to walk? We’ll give you a ride. pic.twitter.com/RibmhrTLSa
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) October 5, 2025
“Government Agencies Shouldn’t Be Making Memes About Torture”
Within hours, ICE’s tweet amassed more than 12 million views, but the majority of the reaction was outrage, not praise.
A top comment read:
“Government communication should inform, educate, and respect the citizenry — never bait it. When an institution tasked with serving the American people stoops to the tactics of online trolls, it erodes credibility, deepens division, and cheapens public discourse.”
The same commenter labeled the post “taxpayer-funded gaslighting disguised as social media strategy.”
Others accused ICE of mocking human suffering while using public funds to run an online propaganda campaign.
“They’re literally using our tax dollars to produce meme videos of brutality,” one person wrote.
“Treating Humans Like Livestock”
Critics across Reddit and X said the agency’s behavior crossed the line into cruel and inhumane treatment, noting that even police departments typically use stretchers or assistance teams when a suspect can’t walk.
“Hauling someone like that is not law enforcement — it’s humiliation,” one user wrote.
Another said, “ICE has become a terrorist organization on top of their usual human trafficking.”
Others compared the imagery to Nazi Germany’s Gestapo, saying the optics were “chillingly similar” to propaganda scenes where prisoners were paraded for public display.
“Parading captives around for propaganda purposes — ICE has officially gone full authoritarian,” one Reddit user commented.
Religious Hypocrisy Called Out
Some viewers highlighted what they saw as blatant hypocrisy from those supporting ICE’s post while claiming Christian values.
“For the party that claims to be of Christian values, how would they feel showing this video to Jesus?” one user asked.
Others noted that this kind of content only normalizes cruelty, warning that public desensitization to violent imagery could embolden further abuse.
ICE Stands by the Post — For Now
Despite the backlash, ICE has not removed the video or issued any apology. The agency’s communications office has yet to respond to inquiries about whether the clip violated federal social media ethics standards or civil rights policies.
Civil rights organizations, including the ACLU of Oregon, are reportedly reviewing the footage and considering a formal complaint.
“This isn’t about law enforcement,” one activist said. “It’s about humiliation, intimidation, and turning cruelty into content.”
Do you think federal agencies should be allowed to post arrest videos on social media for “public awareness”? Share your thoughts with us at FatCityFeed.com.
