‘Biden hired me’ — Video reportedly shows Capitol Hill ICE activity as Seattle Times reports surge in arrests

A video reportedly showing ICE activity on Seattle’s Capitol Hill this week and a testy exchange of words with one of the armed officers during an operation on 10th Ave E comes amid reports of a surge in federal immigration arrests in the region.

Recorded from the passenger seat of a vehicle traveling northbound along 10th Ave E, the video captures law enforcement activity from Tuesday in the residential neighborhood. The car moves slowly down the street, passing multi-story homes, landscaped yards, and several parked vehicles.

As the car passes a driveway, armed officers wearing tactical vests marked “POLICE ICE” are shown standing outside.

One officer in sunglasses, a ballcap, and a blue shirt is confronted by a man on foot who walks up filming with a smartphone, asking questions about family history escaping Nazi Germany and officer pay. The officer dismisses the questions, stating, “I’m not getting into this with you guys” before remarking, “Biden hired me. I don’t know what to tell you,” as a second officer in a full-face balaclava stands nearby.

The recording continues down the block, showing additional officers on the sidewalk alongside unmarked enforcement vehicles, including a dark Dodge Durango with active red and blue grille strobe lights and a plain white cargo van. The clip sent to CHS ends as the vehicle drives past local onlookers on the sidewalk and a residential yard sign that reads “ABOLISH ICE” with a handwritten note attached.

The video sent to CHS shows multiple ICE officers in position but does not show any arrests.

There have been other unconfirmed reports of ICE activities in the area including operations Wednesday morning again on Capitol Hill.

The Seattle Times reports an increase in public, broad-daylight ICE enforcement operations across Seattle during the summer following the Trump administration’s hiring of 12,000 more ICE agents since last July to meet a quota of 2,000 arrests a day across the U.S. set earlier this summer.

The Times reports videos circulating showing federal agents “detaining at least 10 people in separate daytime arrests since July 11” in areas across Seattle.

The ICE field office for Seattle continues to report updates on its operations including a bulletin Monday reporting the arrest of an alleged illegal alien from El Salvador who ICE said has convictions in Nevada and Oregon for “disturbing the peace, domestic violence/assault, a probation violation, and attempted to commit sex abuse.”

CHS has asked the Department of Homeland Security and ICE public affairs for more information on the Capitol Hill activities and any arrests.

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