UK Reform Councillors Back ICE Violence as Britain Faces Trump-Style Threat
If you believe the disturbing events unfolding with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in America could never happen in Britain, you are mistaken. The old adage suggests when America sneezes, the world catches a cold – and right now, Britain appears to be in bed with a severe case of Trump flu, warns commentator Victoria Richards.
Reform UK Figures Express Stark Support for US Agents
Just hours after intensive care nurse Alex Pretti was killed by ICE agents during a demonstration in Minneapolis, two Reform UK county councillors publicly declared their support for the controversial US federal agents. They shared a bruising blue poster image on social media platform X, originally created by the US Department of Homeland Security.
Leicestershire county councillor Michael J. Squires allegedly reposted the image with the caption "100% chance of ICE forecast!" before apparently deleting it later. Screenshots of the post have since circulated widely online, with commentators suggesting he removed it after realizing the abhorrent nature of his statement.
Squires further retweeted US commentator Pete Hegseth, who branded Minnesota protesters "lunatics" and wrote: "Thank God for the patriots of ICE – we have your back 100%. You are SAVING the country."
Second Councillor Joins Controversial Stance
Joseph Boam, another Reform UK county councillor representing Whitwick in Leicestershire, posted the same "I stand with ICE" meme online. He followed this with a provocative question: "For the people that don't support ICE – Are you suggesting that the UK should not enforce its immigration law?"
Boam was previously dismissed from a deputy leader role at the local authority because he "wasn't able to do the job," according to his former superior. Both councillors expressed support for the masked, black-clad agents who shot two protesters dead at close range, despite worldwide condemnation of the killings.
Reform UK's Hardline Immigration Policies
The support for ICE violence from Reform UK members comes as no surprise given the party's own stringent anti-immigration stance. Party leader Nigel Farage has openly discussed plans to scrap indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and deport hundreds of thousands of people.
During the unveiling of "Operation Restoring Justice" in Oxford last August, Farage promised to dismantle the UK's human rights commitments entirely. He even suggested paying despotic regimes like the Taliban to accept returned asylum seekers and boasted about deporting "absolutely anyone" arriving by small boat – including women and children.
Despite these extreme positions, Reform UK continues to perform strongly in opinion polls, while Labour struggles in third place.
Britain's Own Erosion of Civil Liberties
The concern extends beyond political rhetoric to tangible policy changes within Britain. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood recently announced plans to scrap "non-hate crime incidents" (NCHIs) – the policing approach that addresses racist, homophobic, and transphobic threats both online and offline.
This forms part of a so-called "common-sense" policing overhaul that coincides with a white paper proposing a new national police service focused on "complex" threats like terrorism, organized crime, and fraud. The reforms would significantly reduce the number of police forces in England and Wales, leaving "anti-social behaviour" to local neighborhood officers.
These developments demonstrate how little the government prioritizes protecting citizens from hateful prejudice that destroys lives and communities.
Systematic Crackdown on Protest Rights
Britain has experienced a gradual but suffocating erosion of civil liberties in recent years, manifested through heavy-handed policing and restrictions on protest rights. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act of 2022 introduced a "noise trigger" provision allowing fines up to £2,500 or six-month prison sentences for protesters deemed too loud.
The previous Conservative government implemented a £1,000 fine or month-long jail term for wearing face masks during demonstrations. Political rhetoric has shifted dramatically, with former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak employing terms like "mob rule" and urging tougher police action against protests two years ago.
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman sought to grant ministers powers to ban protests entirely, labeling pro-Palestinian demonstrations as "hateful marches." Last year, Palestine Action was designated a proscribed terrorist group in the UK, resulting in thousands of arrests – including elderly and disabled individuals peacefully expressing support for Gaza.
Personal Fears and Political Consequences
The situation has generated genuine fear among British citizens. One parent reported their nine-year-old son waking from a nightmare about ICE agents coming to his school to take him away. This reflects broader anxieties about the direction of UK policy.
In America, the brutality inflicted by ICE on communities has caused approval ratings for Trump's signature immigration policy to plummet among his own supporters. According to Rasmussen – a generally Trump-friendly pollster – the president's approval rating on immigration handling has swung by a net negative of 29 points.
The electorate's desire for secure borders has transformed into disgust at the methods employed to achieve that goal, proving the political adage: be careful what you wish for.
Finding Hope Through Resistance
Amid these troubling developments, where can hope be found? For some, it lies in practical resistance. Many are now joining boycotts of American products as a defiant response to Trump's latest tariffs, recognizing that "America First" policies prove as damaging as "Britain First" approaches.
The refusal to visit the United States or purchase American goods represents a two-fingered salute to policies that threaten civil liberties on both sides of the Atlantic. As Britain grapples with its own version of Trump-style politics, vigilance and resistance become increasingly crucial.
