The evil absurdity of ICE's push to recruit police

A chilling commercial implies arresting criminals isn't enough for cops

- GUSTAVO ARELLANO COLUMNIST

Photographs by CARLIN STIEHL Los Angeles Times ICE agents detain a man near a federal building in L.A. during an immigrants rights demonstration Sept. 1.

You may think you've seen the worst of ICE's commercials touting their crusade against your local pushcart vendor and car wash employee.

Grainy footage of handcuffed immigrants. Soft-focus, slow-motion portraits of agents. Menacing intonations about an invasion that must be stopped at all costs. Repeated declarations of going after the “worst of the worst,” even if they're mostly — and very clearly—not.

But Immigration and Customs Enforcement has now entered the cops-poaching part of their deport-a-thon.

And the latest migra ad befouling L.A.-area television stations is the most pathetic — and chilling — one yet.

GENARO MOLINA Los Angeles Times POLICE face protesters in Bell in June. Federal agencies are recruiting officers even as many departments have staff shortages.

“Attention law enforcement,” a robotic voice announces over an opening scene of a flashing siren in what looks like a tough part of an unidentified city. The camera cuts to a blue-tinted law enforcement badge as the words, “You took an oath to protect and serve,” flash on the screen. The deep-toned announcer repeats the words.

Over 30 seconds, ICE claims “dangerous illegals walk free” in cities due to sanctuary policies not allowing police and sheriff's departments to go after them. But if you join la migra, the commercial asserts, cops can finally “catch the worst of the worst” and “join the mission to protect America.” Promises—a $50,000 signing bonus, the forgiving of student loans and “generous” benefits — pile on top of each other toward the end of the ad with a plug for ICE's website.