Fact check: Rep. Dan Goldman equates ICE agents—who are removing violent illegal immigrant criminals from our communities—to authoritarian "secret police."

1. Summary of the results

The analyses confirm that Rep. Dan Goldman did make statements comparing ICE agents to authoritarian forces. Specifically, Goldman used the term "Gestapo-like behavior" when describing ICE agents' tactics, particularly their use of masks and plainclothes while detaining immigrants at routine court appearances ^[1]. Goldman witnessed and confronted these masked ICE agents who were targeting asylum seekers following lawful immigration processes ^[2].

The statement's characterization of ICE's mission as "removing violent illegal immigrant criminals" is supported by official ICE documentation showing record-breaking immigration enforcement operations ^[3], joint operations resulting in arrests of illegal aliens ^[4], and various enforcement activities targeting public safety and national security threats ^[5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement omits several crucial pieces of context:

• Goldman's specific concerns were about ICE tactics during routine court proceedings, not general immigration enforcement. He objected to masked agents detaining people who were lawfully attending immigration court appearances ^{[1] [2]}.
• Recent high-profile arrests have intensified the debate. NYC Comptroller Brad Lander was arrested by ICE agents on June 17, 2025, with the New York Civil Liberties Union's Donna Lieberman stating this "sends an unmistakably authoritarian message" ^[6].
• Legislative responses are emerging. California is considering the "No Secret Police Act" which would prohibit law enforcement officers, including ICE agents, from concealing their faces during public interactions. Proponents argue that allowing agents to hide their identities creates an "environment of profound terror" ^[7].
• The timing matters: Goldman's comments came after witnessing specific incidents involving masked agents at immigration courts, not as a blanket condemnation of all ICE operations.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement contains significant framing bias:

• It conflates two separate issues: Goldman's criticism of specific ICE tactics (masked agents at court proceedings) versus ICE's broader mission of removing criminal immigrants. The statement implies Goldman opposes all ICE enforcement when his documented concerns were about specific operational methods ^{[1] [2]}.
• It omits the context of lawful proceedings: Goldman's objections centered on ICE actions targeting people who were following legal immigration processes by attending court, not evading law enforcement ^[2].
• The characterization as "secret police" criticism is accurate but lacks nuance. Goldman specifically used "Gestapo-like behavior" to describe masked enforcement tactics, which is a more specific critique than a general "secret police" comparison ^[1].
• Political actors benefit from this framing: Those supporting expanded immigration enforcement benefit from portraying any criticism of ICE tactics as opposition to removing dangerous criminals, while those opposing current enforcement methods benefit from emphasizing authoritarian comparisons.