They deceived many people.
A South Carolina man was arrested after allegedly confronting a Latino man in a viral video, where he is seen claiming he was going to be deported back to Mexico. The incident led to charges, including impersonating an ICE officer. This arrest came shortly after a similar case in Philadelphia, where a 22-year-old man and two others were accused of falsely posing as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
The incidents are taking place against the backdrop of heightened immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, which a Latino civil rights group has described as creating a dangerous atmosphere.
The man arrested in South Carolina, Sean Michael-Emmrich Johnson, 34, turned himself in on Friday and was charged with felony kidnapping, impersonating a law enforcement officer, and two misdemeanors. Authorities later added additional kidnapping charges. According to police, Johnson approached a truck occupied by three Latino men and engaged in a verbal confrontation with the driver, claiming he was going to deport him. The video, which was widely circulated online, shows Johnson taking the driver’s keys, mocking his accent, and telling him he couldn’t drive due to not having a license. Johnson also used derogatory language, telling the driver to speak English and referencing the driver as “El Chapo.”
Following an investigation into the video, police issued warrants for Johnson, who was later released after posting bail. The police have clarified that no charges were filed against the men in the truck. Johnson’s actions were found not to meet the criteria for hate crime charges, as South Carolina does not have specific hate crime laws, though Deputy Police Chief Monty L. Anders said they filed the most serious charges possible under state law.
Roman Palomares, the national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), condemned the incident, calling it part of a larger climate of hostility faced by Latino communities.
In Philadelphia, another case emerged involving a 22-year-old named Aidan Steigelmann and two other individuals who falsely claimed to be ICE officers at Temple University. They tried to enter a residence hall, and later impersonated agents at a nearby store. The group wore clothing labeled “Police” and “ICE” on the front and back. Steigelmann was arrested and charged with conspiracy to impersonate a public servant, while the other two men were not immediately identified.
Temple University confirmed the incident, stating that the impersonators were denied access to the residence hall. The university expressed concern over the situation, emphasizing that no actual ICE agents had been reported on campus. A student involved was placed on interim suspension pending further investigation.
