In Europe, a small but potent website has emerged as a vocal critic of US immigration agents. ICE List is its name, and the mission is simple: to unmask the anonymity that many armed federal agents operate under while deployed in US cities.
The website's roots date back to June, when US homeland security secretary Kristi Noem warned that Americans who identified ICE agents publicly would face arrest. In a cheeky response, Dominick Skinner, the Netherlands-based Irish national behind the site, reposted Noem's warning and said, "well, we're not in the US, so send them to us." The response sparked a flurry of private investigators messaging him, and by the next week, he had a framework for how to work.
The website currently operates as a crowdsourced wiki, drawing on a pool of about 500 volunteers to comb through tips from the public. As tensions swirl over ICE's presence in US streets, another 300 people have expressed interest in volunteering. The site publishes the names, positions, and sometimes photos of ICE agents, as well as others involved in the Trump administration's hardline on migration.
The listings do not include home addresses and phone numbers, according to Skinner. However, he acknowledges that this information is already publicly available, and the site is simply amplifying it. The result has catapulted Skinner and his team into the heated debate over the extent to which the Trump administration has allowed federal agents to conceal their identity.
Armed officers have increasingly been wearing balaclavas, masks, and sunglasses to hide their faces, making it difficult to discern what agency they belong to. This lack of transparency has sparked calls for change, including a Senate Democratic leader's proposal to require ICE agents to wear masks and carry proper identification.
Skinner cast doubt on these claims, saying that the real concern is not safety but community exclusion. "What we're fearful of is not being invited to baseball games or not being invited to the pub with their friends," he said. The website has received tips from a variety of sources, including leaks and public reports, which are then verified using publicly available data.
The site's impact is evident: over 1,500 people have been identified as ICE agents, with five listings having had to be taken down due to inaccuracy or other reasons. Skinner insists that the site is in the public interest, and he waves off Noem's claims that identifying ICE agents is a crime and threats to prosecute offenders.
The aim of the site is not to incite violence but to create an atmosphere similar to that of Chicago in the 1920s, when public naming of Ku Klux Klan members led to their public shunning. By allowing the public to know which of their neighbors are involved with ICE, Skinner hopes to create a culture where these agents are no longer able to operate anonymously.
The website's roots date back to June, when US homeland security secretary Kristi Noem warned that Americans who identified ICE agents publicly would face arrest. In a cheeky response, Dominick Skinner, the Netherlands-based Irish national behind the site, reposted Noem's warning and said, "well, we're not in the US, so send them to us." The response sparked a flurry of private investigators messaging him, and by the next week, he had a framework for how to work.
The website currently operates as a crowdsourced wiki, drawing on a pool of about 500 volunteers to comb through tips from the public. As tensions swirl over ICE's presence in US streets, another 300 people have expressed interest in volunteering. The site publishes the names, positions, and sometimes photos of ICE agents, as well as others involved in the Trump administration's hardline on migration.
The listings do not include home addresses and phone numbers, according to Skinner. However, he acknowledges that this information is already publicly available, and the site is simply amplifying it. The result has catapulted Skinner and his team into the heated debate over the extent to which the Trump administration has allowed federal agents to conceal their identity.
Armed officers have increasingly been wearing balaclavas, masks, and sunglasses to hide their faces, making it difficult to discern what agency they belong to. This lack of transparency has sparked calls for change, including a Senate Democratic leader's proposal to require ICE agents to wear masks and carry proper identification.
Skinner cast doubt on these claims, saying that the real concern is not safety but community exclusion. "What we're fearful of is not being invited to baseball games or not being invited to the pub with their friends," he said. The website has received tips from a variety of sources, including leaks and public reports, which are then verified using publicly available data.
The site's impact is evident: over 1,500 people have been identified as ICE agents, with five listings having had to be taken down due to inaccuracy or other reasons. Skinner insists that the site is in the public interest, and he waves off Noem's claims that identifying ICE agents is a crime and threats to prosecute offenders.
The aim of the site is not to incite violence but to create an atmosphere similar to that of Chicago in the 1920s, when public naming of Ku Klux Klan members led to their public shunning. By allowing the public to know which of their neighbors are involved with ICE, Skinner hopes to create a culture where these agents are no longer able to operate anonymously.
I'm lowkey terrified about this development 
. If we're gonna start outing ICE agents just because they want to hide behind masks and sunglasses... that's like saying "we can't know who's a cop" just cuz they wear a uniform 
. Newsflash, America: if you're an ICE agent, you shouldn't be walking around with your face hidden 
. It's time for them to be held accountable 
. And yeah, I get the whole "community exclusion" thing, but what about us? We deserve to know who's working to deport our friends and family 
. This site is giving me hope that maybe we can finally start a real conversation about this 
.
.
. While some may see the ICE List website as a provocative measure, I believe it represents an important push towards creating a more informed and engaged citizenry 
.
But for real, Dominick Skinner and his team are doing something kinda cool by exposing these agents' identities. It's like, we should have the right to know who's on our streets, especially if they're making waves about deportations and whatnot.
... the fact that 1,500 people are listed as ICE agents is actually kinda scary 
. And let's be real, some of these tips might come from questionable sources 
. But at the same time, Skinner's got a point about community exclusion - it's like, we should have the right to know who's around us and whether they're gonna come after our friends or family.
... but Skinner and his crew are just keeping on calling their bluff 
. I guess only time will tell if this whole thing actually leads to real change 
. It's not about inciting violence, it's about transparency. What if you're at a community event and an ICE agent shows up? You can't really do anything but be aware, right? 
.