The Department of Justice has quietly revived a troubling policy: denaturalization. Once reserved for Nazi war criminals and fraudsters, it’s now being expanded to target naturalized U.S. citizens for vague “serious conduct” and “certain crimes”—terms left deliberately undefined.

This isn’t a trial. There’s no jury. No public defender. Just a federal judge and a civil case with a lower burden of proof.

For many of us who earned our citizenship—by serving, working, and contributing—it’s an alarming shift. One that redefines citizenship as conditional. And if history has taught us anything, it’s that bureaucratic power wielded without guardrails can be weaponized against anyone.
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⚠️ Read the full analysis and take action here:
👉 Denaturalization by Memo: When Citizenship Becomes a Target

Every day, more people are reporting what looks like a plainclothes kidnapping: no uniforms, no badges, just men in regular clothes picking someone up—sometimes in courthouses or jails—and leading them away in unmarked vehicles. It’s unsettling. But what you’ve likely witnessed isn’t a scene from a thriller—it’s part of a growing and highly controversial practice: ICE using private security contractors like G4S to detain immigrants. In this post, we explore how this happened, why it’s legally questionable, and how communities are pushing back.

1. Who’s Really Making the Arrest?
By law, only ICE, CBP, or DOJ officers can carry out immigration arrests. But if you look online, it’s often unmarked operatives or private security contractors who are doing it—standing in for ICE without credentials or uniforms. Under 8 U.S.C. § 1357(a), nobody else is legally authorized.

Are These “Bounty Hunters”? No—but It Sure Feels That Way
Viral videos describe them as “bounty hunters grabbing immigrants in public,” but that’s misleading. Licensed bail agents (“bounty hunters”) work under state criminal law and have no authority over immigration arrests. What we’re seeing is private contractors—like G4S (now part of Allied Universal)—originally hired for transport or surveillance, but now often physically detaining people in public spaces.

ICE’s own internal messaging has warned that these contractors were performing “arrest-like activities”, entering real legal grey areas. (Solano v. ICE complaint (Feb 2021))

Legal Grey Zone: Why This May Be Flat‑Out Illegal
These aren’t just bad optics—they may break the law:

• No proper arrest authority: Private contractors aren’t federal law enforcement and cannot operate under 8 U.S.C. § 1357(a).
• Dangerous lack of due process: Detainees often receive no Miranda warning, no access to counsel, and no warrant—violating the Fourth and Fifth Amendments.
• Impersonation risk: When contractors imply they’re federal officers and detain people, they may break 18 U.S.C. § 912.
• Non‑delegation risk: The Constitution doesn’t allow federal arrest power to be delegated to private actors.

How Did We Get Here?
Starting around 2016, ICE began outsourcing detainee transport to private firms like G4S—especially in states with sanctuary policies. Contractors now sometimes arrest people days after jail release, without ICE agents visibly present. (AP News on ICE contracts and detention surge )

Legal Battles You Should Know About
Courts are pushing back—and slowly defining the limits:

• Solano v. ICE (Feb 2021): Pushed by the ACLU and Asian Law Caucus, this case demanded ICE stop contractor arrests in CA jails.
• Sept 2021: A judge refused to dismiss the case, noting ICE continued contractor arrests after internal concerns.
• July 2022 Settlement: ICE must only use ICE agents—not contractors—if arrests happen in L.A. or S.F. jails. (LA Times on settlement)

Any reforms won through these cases are geographically limited, and practices continue nationwide.
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Plainclothes & Ruse Tactics
It's not just contractors—undercover ICE agents have started blending in during routine court and check-in operations.

In May 2025, several plainclothes agents detained at least four asylum-seekers at San Francisco’s immigration court—wearing badges but using unmarked vehicles while accompanied by G4S personnel. (San Francisco Standard)

These operations have been widely condemned as fear tactics that undermine due process. (Tennessee Courthouse Raid – Action5 News)

Why We Should All Care
When non-uniformed agents conduct high-impact detentions:

• Communities lose trust. Witnesses may avoid courts or aid out of fear.
• Everyday spaces become threatening. Jails, courts—even immigration check-ins feel dangerous.
• Even legal residents or citizens have been mistakenly targeted.
• Civil rights advocates describe these events as “shadow abductions” that attack constitutional guarantees. (Immigrant Defense Project)

Why Nothing Has Changed

• ICE maintains these contractors are simply “transporting,” not “arresting” — despite mounting evidence.
• Staffing and deportation quotas push ICE toward efficiency over legality.
• Contracts lack transparency, and FOIA can’t penetrate private agreements.

Solutions on the Table
To restore trust and legality, we need:

1. A national ban on contractor arrests—modeled after California’s legal wins.
2. Mandatory identification of all ICE agents—visible badges and plain-language notices.
3. Transparency mandates requiring ICE to report contractor use and operations.
4. Legal oversight expansion—extending California’s AB 937 protections nationwide.

What You Can Do
If you witness a suspicious detention:

• Ask calmly for credentials or a warrant.
• Record video/audio (observe local laws).
• Call local authorities or 911 if it appears illegal.
• Share your evidence with groups like the ACLU, Asian Law Caucus, or Immigrant Defense Project.

Support legal reforms like California’s AB 937 and urge your representatives to protect immigrant communities.

Final Thought
These are not random incidents—they’re part of a systematic shift toward outsourcing enforcement and operating in shadows. But if more individuals, lawyers, and communities speak up, push for transparency, and insist on constitutional integrity, we can shine a light on these practices—and curb them for good.

Sources

• Solano v. ICE Lawsuit (2021) – ACLU/Asian Law Caucus
• 8 U.S.C. § 1357 – Immigration Arrest Authority
• 18 U.S.C. § 912 – Federal Officer Impersonation
• ICE Settlement in California (2022)
• SF Standard Coverage of May 2025 Arrests
• Action5 News Coverage of Tennessee Taco Truck Incident
• Immigrant Defense Project - ICEWatch
• Asian Law Caucus
• ACLU of Northern California
• Share Your Story – IDP

I’m not trying to be provocative, but I do want to be honest.

I’m a U.S. citizen and Navy veteran, and I’ve lived in the United States for more than 40 years. I’m also a German immigrant. And the comparisons I keep seeing online—between modern ICE enforcement and the Gestapo—have stopped me in my tracks.

It’s easy to dismiss these comparisons as hyperbole. But before we do that, we need to understand what the Gestapo actually was.

The Geheime Staatspolizei—better known as the Gestapo—was the Nazi regime’s secret police. It emerged from the Prussian state police and became the engine of surveillance, intimidation, and state-sponsored fear in Germany during the Third Reich. Despite the “secret” label, everyone knew of their presence. And that was the point.

One of my great-grandmothers hid her disabled cousin during the Nazi euthanasia campaign of the early 1940s that targeted the disabled, and later even the elderly. The terror was real and absolute. You didn’t know who might report you. You didn’t know who to trust. And once the Gestapo came for you, there was no appeal. No due process. No help.

The question is: Is ICE becoming something similar?

🛑 Similarities and Differences
Here is what’s not the same:

• ICE operates within a democratic framework and is technically subject to oversight and the Constitution.
• The Gestapo was the enforcement arm of a fascist dictatorship, accountable only to Hitler and Heinrich Himmler, the head of the Schutzstaffel (SS), of which the Gestapo was a part.

But the tactics? The erosion of trust? That’s where things get uncomfortably close.

• Warrantless searches and detentions: ICE has detained people at courthouses, hospitals, and schools. Officers have reportedly bypassed due process protections and held individuals without clear charges or hearings. In 2020, a federal judge ruled that ICE had violated constitutional protections by making courthouse arrests without warrants .
• Lack of transparency and abuse of power: Multiple investigations have revealed ICE officers operating with limited accountability, using aggressive tactics—including the reported use of face coverings, unmarked vehicles, and force against people who have legal status or are in proceedings .
• Indiscriminate targeting: Under different administrations, ICE’s mission has swung between targeting violent offenders and conducting mass raids that detain families, legal asylum seekers, and longtime residents with no criminal record. A 2019 ProPublica report uncovered internal policies that allowed ICE to target nearly anyone without prioritization .
• Co-opting local police: Just like the Gestapo relied on local police and civilian tipsters, ICE has deputized local law enforcement through the 287(g) program, effectively turning sheriff’s deputies into immigration agents .
• Psychological warfare: The Gestapo’s most potent weapon wasn’t just physical violence—it was fear. That fear discouraged dissent and enabled complicity. ICE has become a similar source of anxiety for many immigrants and their communities, especially when raids target courthouses or involve children .

⚖️ Legal vs. Just
Is ICE legal? Yes. But is it operating justly?

That’s murkier. The Gestapo cloaked its horrors in laws too—laws that were designed to criminalize dissent, difference, and disability. Legality isn’t the same as justice.

We have due process for a reason. But when ICE agents can operate in plainclothes, arrest people at court, and detain families—including children—without clear justification, it’s time to ask: Are we honoring the spirit of our laws, or finding ways to bypass them?

🚨 Are We Powerless?
The Gestapo thrived because people were afraid to resist. But in a democracy, we’re not powerless:

• Know your rights: The ACLU and other groups offer resources to help people understand their rights during ICE encounters.
• Support oversight: Push for stronger congressional and judicial oversight of ICE actions (see aforementioned 287(g) program).
• Document and report: If you witness abuses, document and share responsibly. Sunshine is still a powerful disinfectant.
• Elect accountability: Demand that your representatives—local, state, and federal—commit to humane, constitutional enforcement.

📣 Final Thought
Comparing ICE to the Gestapo may feel extreme, but ignoring the warning signs would be worse. Authoritarianism doesn’t arrive all at once. It creeps in when we justify fear, silence dissent, and look the other way.

Let’s not.

Let’s speak up, stay informed, and make sure we never become the country others have fled.

Sources & Citations:

1. American Civil Liberties Union – “Federal Court Rules ICE Courthouse Arrests Are Unconstitutional” – https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/federal-court-rules-ice-courthouse-arrests-are-unconstitutional
2. NPR – “Immigrant Advocates Raise Alarm Over ICE Tactics, Use Of Unmarked Vehicles” – https://www.npr.org/2020/07/17/892834041
3. ProPublica – “ICE Targets Are Everywhere” – https://www.propublica.org/article/ice-targets-are-everywhere
4. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – 287(g) Program Overview – https://www.ice.gov/287g
5. Washington Post – “ICE Arrests Migrant Family Leaving Immigration Court After Case Dropped” – https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/05/28/ice-arrests-immigration-court-texas/