NBC 4 Washington reports that numerous fake ICE flyers featuring instructions to report undocumented immigrants to immigration agents or risk jail time were posted in a Washington, D.C. neighborhood today. “If you see something, say something,” states the official-looking flyer. “If you would like to report illegal aliens, please call Immigration and Customs Enforcement.” Outraged tweets across social media prompted a swift rebuke from Mayor Muriel Bowser, who tweeted that “DC is a sanctuary city. Clearly the flyer is meant to scare and divide our residents. We won't stand for it.”
ICE denied any connection to flyer, saying in a statement that “the immigration enforcement notices appearing across Washington, D.C. were not issued or sanctioned by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)”:
“Just like false reports of immigration checkpoints or random sweeps, notices like these are dangerous and irresponsible," the spokeswoman continued. "Any person who actively incites panic or fear of law enforcement is doing a disservice to the community, endangering public safety and the very people they claim to support and represent.”
Of course, we’ve seen all too often that fearmongering is exactly what ICE has been engaged in, stalking undocumented immigrants at courthouses and creating such a climate of fear that immigrants are now refusing to report crime and assault out of fear of deportation. Hate crimes at the hands of white supremacists have been on the rise since Trump’s election, tragically taking the lives of two men in Portland just recently. If you’re looking for the “disservice,” ICE, go look in the mirror.
So far there’s no word on the culprit or culprits, but hopefully security cameras caught something and those responsible should be held accountable for not just spreading hateful messages, but impersonating federal agencies as well. Mayor Bowser added that her office has been in contact with the D.C. Police Department and Department of Public Works, and tweeted “that we respect all DC residents no matter their immigration status. Washington, DC remains a sanctuary city.”