The New America: Federal (ICE) Agents Boarding Trains?

[MayReasonRule]

Last edited Fri Apr 18, 2025, 05:01 PM - Edit history (1)

As an attorney I’m deeply alarmed by an incident that occurred just this week and feel compelled to share it—to raise awareness of the legal and constitutional crossroads we are rapidly approaching.

A co-worker of mine (who is a judge), traveled by train from Montana to North Dakota for work this week. The train made a stop in Havre, MT, where ICE agents—armed and dressed in full military-style tactical gear—boarded the train.

They walked the full length of the train and questioned every single passenger about their citizenship status. According to the conductor, who has worked nearly 40 years on that route, this was a first. In all his decades of service, federal agents have never boarded his train like this.

This is not a hypothetical. This is not a scene from a dystopian film. This happened this week to my colleague, on U.S. soil, to U.S. citizens, legal residents, and foreign tourists here on holiday, without a warrant, without probable cause—based solely on geography.

Read More At We Know Whats Up

UPDATE Thank You To sl8

This version updates the headline and clarifies that it was Border Patrol agents who boarded the train.

A judge and attorney from North Dakota said Thursday that he was one of possibly all the passengers on an Amtrak Empire Builder train questioned by federal officers about their citizenship Sunday while the train was stopped in Havre.

The person interviewed by Havre Weekly Chronicle said ICE officers were the ones who questioned him.

A spokesperson for ICE said the activity was not related to that agency, and referred questions to Customs and Border Protection.

[Lovie777]

1. Can I say the new Nazis............

[MayReasonRule]

2. Sadly True

[LuckyLib]

3. Are we fascist yet?

[MayReasonRule]

6. We Are Freedom Loving Patriotic Americans

They are fascists through and through.

These are American Nazis.

Clear as day.

[Magoo48]

18. Yup. It began as an Orange tumor in the Republican body politic. Now, it is metastasizing.

[Volaris]

46. Well, were at the 'Papers, please.' stage of this decent...

That's all the red flag I need.

[Disaffected]

4. "Papers please..."

[Irish_Dem]

35. Maybe we could start wearing patches or armbands.

So ICE knows who everyone is by just looking at us.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

60. Is Trump into people being Aryan/blond. He plays up being Scottish.

You look at Trump and most of his blond kids (except for Don Junior) and it makes you think of the Aryans in Germany. Trump seems to favor blonds, wanted to get more Norwegians, Danes, Swiss and South Africans (who are often Dutch) to come to the U.S. because of his obsession with genetics. He has made comments about Latinos “poisoning Anericans blood.” Like Hitler used to claim about Jews, Gypsies, Italians, etc. He tries to play up that he is Scottish. His press secretary just posted on Social Media “Make America blond again” after just having her hair dyed a lighter blond color.

[Irish_Dem]

63. Cutting off healthcare and medical research is part of the eugenics program,

Funding for cancer research, etc.

Trump and Musk only want the healthy and strong to survive.
If you get sick you are worthless to them.

You cannot make the billionaires richer if you are sick, weak, old, infirm.

[alwaysinasnit]

5. Maybe MTG is right about the gazpacho police.

[jalan48]

7. The net is being cast.

[yourout]

8. Hunger games here we come.

[dchill]

9. From the link...

"Under current law ICE has expanded authority to operate within 100 miles of any border."

If your state is not more than 200 miles across in any direction, you have NO SAFE ZONE from ICE. You probably don't anyway. Once they've decided they can be illegal, they'll just be legally illegal.

[drray23]

11. Any border with a foreign country or ocean

Not another state.

[dchill]

13. Also from the link...

"Under current law ICE has expanded authority to operate within 100 miles of any border. But HOW that authority is being interpreted and exercised has chilling implications for civil liberties, freedom of movement, and equal protection under the law."

I certainly don't trust them, but you do you.

[Scrivener7]

56. But ICE said it wasn't them. According to the OP:

"A spokesperson for ICE said the activity was not related to that agency, and referred questions to Customs and Border Protection."

[dchill]

58. Then several people are criminals...

... impersonating a federal agent is a pretty serious crime. Or was, back in the days before MAGA!

[Initech]

10. Tom Homan is the real terrorist. Fuck that guy.

[bdamomma]

30. He's

the enemy within, homegrown too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Irish_Dem]

12. I better not travel this summer.

Any of these Gestapo come near me and I will make it quite clear what I think of their nazi asses.

[ananda]

17. Well, if everyone stopped travelling...

I would practically revel in the result.

Am I insane?

[Irish_Dem]

19. It may happen.

I am not sure I want to travel domestically and I am an American.

If some masked Nazi tries to grab me or my phone, or comes near one of my family
members it will not go well.

[LiberalArkie]

25. I don't go anywhere, but I have been leaving my iPhone at home and just using my cellular Apple Watch. I can do

anything that the phone can do, but it they take it off my wrist they have to log back in and I do not have to tell them the passcode.
With the phones all they have to do is out it up to your face.

[MayReasonRule]

36. Excellent Suggestion Y'all!

[Irish_Dem]

38. I will not give up my phone.

I will not hand it over.
I am going to stick it down my bra if they come near me.

If they still come after it, then I fight.
And fight hard.

I guess I have hit the wall with these Nazis.
I can only be pushed so far, and the gestapo searches are where I am drawing a line.

[ananda]

53. I was thinking sort of in terms of boycotting travel.

Imagine the consequences.

[Irish_Dem]

54. Same thing.

I am not going on one planned family trip.
To a red area and I don't feel safe in those areas anymore.

[bdamomma]

31. Being

imprisoned in your own country????? Are we going to be the new "Iron Curtain" Fuck these fascists!!!!!!

[sl8]

14. Border Patrol says it was their operation, not ICE

https://www.havredailynews.com/story/2025/04/17/local/ice-questions-amtrak-passengers-in-havre-about-citizenship/547792.html

[MayReasonRule]

15. Excellent Catch Y'all! Thank You! I'm Updating Post To Reflect Your Findings

[sl8]

48. The photo in the OP seems at odds with the CBP claims, though.

There's no caption for the photo, so I'm not sure if it's a file photo or a photo taken during this incident.

[MayReasonRule]

64. The Photograph That I Posted Is From The Original Post By The Attorney Friend Of The Judge That Made The Post

That much I know.

Happy Saturday y'all!

[sl8]

65. I know that and my comment was regarding the lawyer's post.

Sorry that I wasn't more clear.

Also, I would've expected a lawyer to be a little more precise in summarizing the "100 mile rule". They should have specified "national border" rather than "any border", lest readers think it might apply to state/county/city/town borders.

None of that reflects on you and I appreciate your OP.

[MayReasonRule]

66. Right On sl8... No Offense Was Taken... I Really Appreciate Reasoned Discouse

Of which you're a prime example.

Thanks for that y'all!

[sl8]

67. Thank you and right back atcha. :) nt

[Irish_Dem]

40. The Trump Nazis are all the same.

[JoseBalow]

16. Welcome to America

[Squaredeal]

21. I prefer the scene where William Holden is stopped by German immigration in the Counterfeit Traitor,

A harrowing film.

[JoseBalow]

23. Wow, I haven't seen that film in ages!

But I do remember it being quite tense and disturbing. His friend's Hitler Youth son totally creeped me out, such an evil little bastard.

The gif I posted is from Top Secret... slightly less disturbing, but apt nonetheless.

[flashman13]

20. You are under no legal obligation to talk to these assholes.

[bdamomma]

32. Is

there a main ACLU contact number to call if you're harassed like this?????

[tishaLA]

44. Yeah I'm surprised a judge of all people wouldn't tell them about the right to remain silent

The harder we make them work, the better.

[IronLionZion]

22. Are we great enough yet?

[dchill]

77. Close enough, I'd say.

[Hope22]

24. As shocking as this is ....

In 2009 I traveled from Ohio to Idaho by train, two round trips. When we stopped in Grand Junction, CO we were boarded by officers and their dogs. I can’t remember what division it was but they were targeting brown skinned people with foreign ‘sounding’ names. The guy in my car had been pulled aside, had his things searched and they proceeded to interrogate the passenger. The conductor came back and told the officers that this same man had been given this treatment several stops prior. He stood up for the passenger and told them so much as to move on. The dogs came out, cased the train and I remember one of the uniformed individuals waliking the roofs of the cars. Definitely a creepy feeling. My guess is any train employee speaking up now would fear for their job. They have been taking liberties with our rights for years. And this was before 9/11.

[sl8]

26. In 2009 or before 9/11 (2001)? nt

[Hope22]

59. OMG...

I am so brain dead. It was Nov 2009 and Feb. 2010. Sorry for the confusion!

[sl8]

62. Thank you. nt

[LiberalArkie]

27. And numerous Democratic administrations and nothing changed. We loose elections because the populace see no difference

[MayReasonRule]

34. The Populace Sees A Difference Now...

[SWBTATTReg]

28. Yikes. What's next, pull over cars and/or other modes of transportation, regardless of mileage to the 'border',

and demand their papers, answer their questions?

Perhaps we all need to seek out training in legal matters, especially immigrant related. Maybe someone will post up some FYI information on such courses/training.

[Irish_Dem]

41. Well they don't want women crossing state lines either.

So they will check for that as well.

[Hope22]

61. We sail on the Great Lakes and since 9/11 have become numb to Homeland stopping us on any given day.

I have to say this year is going to be very different. Phones, laptops and IPads are all much more vulnerable . It’s not possible to check in to Customs without a phone and we have electronic charts that are certainly convenient and more up to date. There are no good choices. They can board you right outside the marina…anywhere!

[dickthegrouch]

72. Sadly, every international airport could be said to represent a border

If the regime wants to take things to their logical extremes.

Who am I kidding "If"? They are taking the most expansive interpretation of everything they possibly can, until reigned in.

If I were a judge, however, I'd want to know if someone had actually traversed said border before making them subject to any form detention, stop, or other questioning. But then we get into fights about how recently the person traversed the border, and on and on with the prevarications and obfuscations.

[MayReasonRule]

33. This Is An Escalation By More Than One Order Of Magnitude

The American Nazi Regime is already sending large groups of individuals without any due process to death camps.

I call them death camps because that is precisely what they intend for them to be.

[dalton99a]

29. Kick

[angrychair]

37. They are the new Geheime Staatspolizei

Remember to say these three things and these things only:
1. I do not consent to a search of any kind.
2. Am I under arrest or am I free to leave?
3. I want to speak to a lawyer.

Other than that exercise your 5th amendment rights and shut the fuck up.

Bonus: do not use facial recognition or biometrics to lock any of your devices. Always use an alphanumeric code for all your devices. You cannot be compelled to enter your alphanumeric password.

I am not a lawyer. This does not constitute legal advice and is only my opinion.

[Irish_Dem]

42. How about "kiss my ass you nazi bastards."

[angrychair]

45. I would assume

That is a 1st amendment right.

[Irish_Dem]

47. I cannot give in to the nazi SOBs.

My father was career Air Force and flew combat in three wars.
My US Navy uncle was killed at Guadalcanal.
My mother was an Air Force nurse during Korean War.
Brothers in Army and Marines.

I cannot kowtow and cave in to Nazi bastards.

The family would all come back to haunt me and rightly so.

[angrychair]

50. Thank you for your family's service

I will never submit to these Nazis. Not one millimeter.

[Irish_Dem]

51. Me either.

I can't kowtow them. I just cannot do it.

[Jedi Guy]

71. Side note: generally police can't legally demand your identification on a random encounter.

They must have reasonable suspicion (i.e., probable cause). Unfortunately, probable cause is wildly subjective and can be something as simple as, "the person looked nervous as we approached". It's a very low bar.

It's worth noting that some states do have stop and identify laws, so it's important to know the laws of the jurisdiction in question.

As a practical matter, my advice would be to hand over one's ID and not answer any questions beyond that. Even if the police aren't within their rights to demand it, refusing to do so won't make the encounter end any faster. Even if one fully believes the police are in the wrong, litigate the matter after the fact in court, not on the side of the road.

I'm not a lawyer either, but I worked with LEOs for a number of years.

[Igel]

39. That uniform is neither ICE nor Border Patrol.

Probably AI.

[MayReasonRule]

43. Probably Not... This Was Posted By An Attorney Friend Of The Judge That Relayed The Account To Him

[dixiegrrrrl]

49. "First they came for the......"

[k_buddy762]

52. Immigration officers of various agencies

have had jurisdiction over conveyances for decades. They are well within their federal authority.

One of many, many statutes that needs to be undone.

[Scrivener7]

55. So a spokesperson for ICE said it was not them. So was it just militia assholes playing dress-up?

There are photos. Those people need to be tracked down and arrested.

ETA: I see below where Border Patrol has taken responsibility.

[GusBob]

69. Havre MT is 30-some miles from the Canadian border

The CBP has a HQ there

The OP headline is in error

[Scrivener7]

70. Oh, well. Then by all means they should

walk through in full tactical gear and guns and harass all the riders.

[GusBob]

73. Strangely enough

The same CBP showed up on the Rez just South of there. The Tribal chairman posted on FB how the Tribe should work with them as in his words ‘they wanted illegal immigrants off their homeland’
There is a reason for his words

[Scrivener7]

74. Sure. Because this is totally normal and we should welcome it, right?

[GusBob]

75. He called it the 'new normal' actually

They want drugs off the Rez and maybe thought this would help. So yeah fenty and meth were part of the reason, but they wanted all illegal immigrants off their homeland. Get it?

I lived and worked there for over 7 years. The folks weren’t happy about the CBP being there but the cartels had a stranglehold on the Tribe, the poison affects just about every person and the Tribal police couldn’t do much to stop it. It’s well documented and published affecting most Western Tribes

Last March 3 people I knew well were gunned down in a targeted assassination attempt, 2 died.
Teen aged Hispanics from Southern California were the trigger men. Never seen so many FBI agents in my life, the Rez was a beehive of Feds

There were far more deaths by overdose in the time I lived there. I knew them too

The poison was not coming from the Canadien border there but mostly from Seattle, where that train runs from

Not saying I am happy myself with the Gestapo tactics, no

[Scrivener7]

76. You're not happy with the gestapo tactics, yet you are staunchly defending them.

And making the silly suggestion that those gestapo harassing train passengers is the answer to cartels.

Interestingly, that's exactly Mump's justification for gestapo techniques. It doesn't make much sense from them either.

Have a nice day.

[GusBob]

78. Bro I am just describing what happened on the Rez with Havre CBP

And how the Natives deal with it

It’s not about what I think really, besides the fact that I hate drugs and drug dealers of all kinds

[Demovictory9]

57. in the 1970s, early 80s, they did that in border cities like San Diego. Boarded city buses and walked the aisle

very racist about it too. would only approach Hispanic people... whites and Black people were not approached.

The Hispanic person would silently get up and leave the bus with the immigration people. No pushback.

[GusBob]

68. Havre MT CBP. I used to live near there

These are the guys who got sued for harassing a lady speaking Spanish at the gas station in Havre

Their HQ is there and I used to use its flags to gauge wind for hunting

Would run into these guys out in the field all the time. Often it would be the only other person you would see all day. It’s very remote, and beautiful up there. They looked bored so I would stop and try and chat with them like country folks do.

Yes they were bored, and very very unfriendly

[cpamomfromtexas]

79. How is this being funded??

Funds are supposed to be appropriated by congress. Is he illegally diverting funds?

[MayReasonRule]

80. A Good Question

My limited understanding is that via Executive Order the orange shit-gibbon "re-prioritized"
where current resources will be utilized.

Happy Sunday!

Eat well, sleep well, stay well and above all else love the one's you're with!
Don't let 'em steal your joie de vivre!

[choie]

82. Wonder why they need sunglasses on a train?

Must not want to be ID'd.