A detention operation carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents ended in controversy on Monday, July 7, when a Hispanic immigrant was subdued with a taser gun inside a Walmart store in the state of New Mexico.
The incident occurred in front of dozens of customers at the Walmart allegedly located in Albuquerque, including minors, and was caught on video by eyewitnesses.
What do the images show?
In the video, widely disseminated on social networks such as TikTok, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), two agents can be seen trying to detain the man inside the commercial area.
The migrant resists briefly, desperately shouting “help!” without assault, before receiving an electric shock that knocks him down instantly.
The officers then proceeded to pin him to the ground, while shoppers watched the scene visibly upset.
So far, ICE has not issued an official statement about the operation nor has it publicly identified the detained immigrant.
According to some websites, the city where the events occurred is Albuquerque, and local sources indicate that it was in a border area of New Mexico.
Did the immigrant represent a threat?
According to local media and witnesses consulted by community organizations, the man was not carrying a weapon and showed no signs of imminent danger.
This has led to criticism of ICE for allegedly using excessive force, especially in a civilian space such as a supermarket.
Organizations such as the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center and RAICES have spoken out.
Usar un taser en un lugar lleno de familias es una señal clara de intimidación. No es protección, es persecución
ICE intensifies operations under new policies
The context of this operation is not isolated.
Since January 2025, under the new administration of President Donald Trump, ICE has tightened its detention practices.
The agency has been authorized to make arrests in public spaces such as supermarkets, bus stations or churches, under a policy of “deterrent presence”.
In addition, collaboration has been strengthened between its two divisions: Detention and Removal (ERO) and its investigative arm, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which has led to more visible raids in areas with high Latino populations.
A new blow to the sense of security
Buzzy
The release of the video has caused alarm in the Hispanic community in New Mexico and across the country.
Many immigrants express on social media their concern that a seemingly safe space like a Walmart could become the site of aggressive immigration operations.
While ICE remains silent, pressure from the public and activists continues to grow.
They demand transparency about the case, clearer protocols and, above all, respect for the dignity of immigrants, regardless of their legal status.
