NBC’s Police Drama Law and Order: SVU has sparked controversy for its portrayal of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), depicting them as antagonists in its recent narrative, which intertwined with active legal proceedings, involving the arrest of New York police officers and the protection of sexual predators.
The episode titled “In the Wind” opens with a rape committed by an undocumented individual named Ruiz (Juan Francisco Villa), who is willing to testify against the perpetrator in court.
As the trial date nears, Ruiz seemingly goes missing. Captain Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) visits his apartment and discovers that ICE is conducting an operation nearby, prompting Ruiz to flee to avoid immigration authorities.
Assistant District Attorney Sonny Carisi (Peter Scannavino) confronts the judge, accusing the defense attorney of having called ICE to raid the building to obstruct testimony in the rape case. It’s also revealed that Ruiz has faced drug-related charges over the past fifteen years.
In the show, officials from SVU dismiss the drug allegations as “fake,” since the illegal activities appear not to be formally charged crimes.
Despite ICE’s operations, the judge informs Carisi that the case will proceed, suggesting that it would be detrimental for the prosecution if Ruiz fails to appear. This pushes Benson and her team to strategize on how to locate Ruiz and ensure his court appearance, aiming to convict the rapist.
Interestingly, the rapist portrayed in the episode is a white male (Calebrand Long) who owns the building where two women were assaulted. This paints a picture where not only is ICE depicted unfavorably, but rapists are characterized as privileged landowners.
Benson and Carisi take a moral high ground, accusing others of complicity with ICE in the rape case, while they work to persuade Ruiz to return to the squad room and agree to testify, all while knowing he’s at risk of deportation.
In Benson’s office, Ruiz reveals he has been in the U.S. for 22 years, adhering to laws and paying taxes, and claims his arrest is based on false charges. Benson reassures him that the NYPD will “do everything we can do to protect you.”
As News Busters notes, the conversation unfolds:
Ruiz: So, my options are to run and hide and hope they don’t find me, or leave and never come back. And now you want me to do something good for my government? Why would I do that?
Benson: You’re right, and no one would blame you if you chose to hide. But the reality is, Mr. Ruiz, you came here tonight.
Things take a chaotic turn when an ICE agent enters the squad room to arrest Ruiz.
Benson’s immediate thought is to help Ruiz escape down the stairs behind her, but Carisi discourages this plan.
Upon ICE’s arrival, Benson ends up facing arrest for obstructing a federal operation.
Detective Velasco: They don’t have warrants.
Carisi: It doesn’t matter. They are federal agents.
Captain Curry: So they can just take our witnesses? We can’t intervene?
Benson: Please, just wait a moment. I need you to trust me. Can you do that? [Tense music] Velasco, arrest him.
Velasco: What?
Benson: Now. Arrest him now.
Velasco: Ruiz, you’re under arrest.
ICE Agent: Captain Benson, you are obstructing federal operations.
Carisi: No, she isn’t. Jorge Ruiz is a key witness and he is in NYPD custody.
Benson: Do you really want to let the rapist go free? He belongs with us; keep him here.
Carisi: If he offers testimony, then, no, I’ll release him.
ICE Agent: You’ve been hindering this from the start. This is a federal matter. Put your hands behind your back.
Later in the episode, ICE is further depicted unfavorably as they burst into the courtroom during the rape trial, attempting to apprehend Ruiz again. In a tense moment, the city judge asserts that they are unwelcome in that courtroom.
Unfortunately, the portrayal of ICE lacks a realistic representation, and NBC viewers are not informed about the thousands of career criminals and illegal immigrants ICE has apprehended, including those involved in serious crimes.
The depiction in the episode, suggesting that ICE protects rapists, is especially troubling, given that the agency has arrested numerous sex offenders and aims to protect communities.
