ICE Harassment: Indian-American Doctor’s Viral Post
Viral Account by Indian-American Physician Highlights Growing Fears Over ICE Tactics
Public outrage over aggressive immigration enforcement in the United States has intensified after an Indian-American doctor shared a disturbing personal account involving her elderly mother and masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Texas. The incident has struck a nerve online, amplifying fears that federal immigration actions are increasingly affecting ordinary citizens in public spaces.
Dr. Nisha Patel, a Texas-based physician with a large social media following, posted on X that her mother — a US citizen of 47 years — was stopped and questioned by masked ICE agents while shopping at an outlet mall. According to Patel, the agents appeared to target her mother based on her accent, assuming she spoke Spanish and addressing her in that language.
When Patel’s mother said she did not speak Spanish, the encounter reportedly escalated. The agents allegedly began demanding to know where she was “from,” rapidly listing countries without giving her time to respond. Patel said her mother was only allowed to leave after showing a photo of her US passport stored on her phone.
“My mom was stopped and harassed by masked ICE agents while shopping at an outlet mall in Texas,” Patel wrote in a post that has since crossed 2.3 million views. “She is a US citizen. She has lived in this country for 47 years. If you think this is just about ‘sending criminals back,’ you are dead wrong.”
ICE: Viral Reaction Reflects Deepening Fear
The post triggered a wave of emotional responses, with many users describing Patel’s account as emblematic of broader anxieties surrounding immigration enforcement. Several commenters expressed shock that a US citizen could be questioned in a public mall without a clear cause.
“I’m delaying my next trip to the USA because of this,” one user wrote. Another added, “47 years in the country. Harassed by agents with 47 days of training. If this can happen to a citizen in a mall, it can happen to anyone.”
Others reflected on how the incident shattered their perception of the United States. One comment read, “Our appearance, our language, even our accents can change your life forever. Being detained without committing a crime is terrifying. Is this really the United States?”
Many described the incident as a clear example of ICE harassment of US citizens, warning that profiling based on accent or appearance undermines civil liberties and public trust.
Context: Killings in Minneapolis Fuel National Protests
Patel’s story has surfaced amid nationwide protests demanding accountability from federal immigration agencies following two fatal shootings in Minneapolis earlier this month. On January 7, ICE agents shot and killed Renee Good, a 37-year-old US citizen, during an enforcement operation. Less than three weeks later, federal immigration officers fatally shot Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and also a US citizen, during a separate confrontation.
The killings have sparked demonstrations across Minnesota and beyond. Governor Tim Walz and other state leaders have condemned the deaths, calling for independent investigations and urging federal immigration agents to withdraw from the state pending accountability measures.
ICE: Political Fallout in Washington
The controversy has spilled into Washington, where lawmakers from multiple states have questioned ICE tactics and oversight. Some members of Congress have threatened to block Department of Homeland Security funding unless reforms are introduced and investigations completed.
Civil rights groups argue that recent enforcement strategies have blurred the line between immigration control and everyday policing, creating an atmosphere of fear even among lawful residents and citizens.
Numbers Highlight the Scale of Enforcement
Official figures underline the scope of immigration enforcement, driving public concern. The administration has stated that 605,000 people were deported between January 20 and December 10, 2025. In addition, authorities claim that 1.9 million immigrants “voluntarily self-deported” following an aggressive public campaign encouraging people to leave to avoid detention.
As of November 30, 2025, approximately 65,000 people were held in ICE detention facilities, according to data from Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC).
Indian nationals remain among those significantly impacted. In fiscal year 2024, ICE detained 2,647 Indian citizens for immigration violations, ranking Indians fourth among nationalities held in ICE custody.