As I watch the chaos unfold in Los Angeles right now, I’m struck by how deeply confused we’ve become as a nation. The streets are filled with angry chants, businesses are boarded up, and once again, the media is telling only half the story. We’re being shown images of protests and labeled them all as “peaceful”—while behind the scenes, riots are tearing through neighborhoods, ICE agents are being targeted, and law enforcement is under assault for doing their job.
Let’s be clear: These are ICE protests—but many have crossed into criminality. And someone needs to speak plainly about what’s actually happening.
What’s Going On in Los Angeles?
After a wave of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Los Angeles County—raids targeting those in the U.S. illegally—protests erupted across the city. Demonstrators gathered outside federal buildings, detention centers, and even on the freeways. Some of these gatherings were peaceful, yes—but many weren’t.
Rocks were thrown. Property was destroyed. National Guard troops had to be mobilized to protect federal buildings. The 101 Freeway was blocked. These aren’t just expressions of free speech—they’re criminal acts.
I support the right to protest. I do not support lawlessness masquerading as compassion.
Are ICE Agents the Bad Guys?
Let’s set the record straight: ICE is a lawful federal agency tasked with enforcing immigration laws. That includes identifying and removing individuals who are in the country illegally. Whether or not we like the optics, they are doing their job.
And no, ICE doesn’t just go after anyone. Many of their actions are focused on individuals with prior deportation orders, expired visas, or criminal histories. Still, I hear the argument: Some of these people have families. They’ve lived here for years. And I get it—compassion matters. But so does the law.
Here’s what I believe:
- We can show dignity and grace to every person
- Without abandoning justice or undermining legal authority
That’s the balance we must return to.
What About the Deaths in ICE Custody?
You’ve probably heard the claims that ICE is “killing people in detention.” That’s the kind of dangerous narrative that gets repeated and politicized without context.
Let’s look at the facts. In 2025, nine people have died in ICE custody—and not one of them died due to abuse or brutality. Here are a few examples:
Nhon Ngoc Nguyen, 55, died in El Paso after complications from dementia and pneumonia. His death was natural, in a hospital—not in a cell.
Brayan Rayo-Garzon, 27, died by suicide in a Missouri jail. A tragic mental health failure—not ICE violence.
Marie Ange Blaise, 44, died in a Florida detention facility. The cause is still under investigation, but there is no confirmed evidence of mistreatment.
These are tragedies, yes—but they are being twisted to frame ICE as inhumane. That’s not truth. It’s manipulation.
One of the cases involved Marie Ange Blaise, a Haitian woman who died in ICE custody at a detention center in Florida — you can read a full report from NPR here.
What Does the Bible Say About This?
I often hear Christians quoting Leviticus 19:34:
“The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself…”
And I agree. We must treat every person—legal or illegal—with dignity. But we can’t stop there.
Scripture also says in Romans 13:1-2:
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established…”
We’re not called to support lawlessness. We’re called to uphold truth and justice, even when it’s uncomfortable.
And Micah 6:8 gives us the framework:
“What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Justice and mercy. That’s what I believe this whole debate is lacking.
Rioting Is Not Righteous
What’s happening on the streets of L.A. right now isn’t just passionate. It’s dangerous.
Blocking freeways. Destroying property. Assaulting law enforcement. That’s not advocacy. That’s anarchy.
And while the media tells you it’s about human rights, I’m here to tell you it’s often about power. It’s about undermining lawful authority and using selective outrage to drive a political agenda.
You want to have a peaceful protest about immigration? Do it. I’ll support your right to do it.
But when you throw rocks at ICE agents and call for the abolition of borders, don’t expect me to stay silent.
Where I Stand
I believe:
- People should come to this country legally
- Laws must be obeyed and enforced
- No one in custody should be mistreated or neglected
- Protest is a right. Rioting is a crime
- Christians must lead with both truth and compassion—not outrage and distortion
Related Reads
We are not a nation without borders. And we are not a people without compassion.
It’s time to return to both.
Arch Kennedy
Where Faith Meets Culture — Bold, Unfiltered, and Unafraid
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Outstanding explanation!