Ice Cream Mogul Demands Dissolution of Immigration Agency After Shootings

A prominent business figure has called for the complete dissolution of the nation’s immigration enforcement agency following two fatal shootings this month involving federal agents and citizens in a northern industrial city.

Ben Cohen, co-founder of a well-known ice cream company, reportedly stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement should be “defunded and disbanded” after what he characterized as escalating violence by federal immigration agents. The businessman’s comments came after two separate incidents in which citizens were allegedly killed by federal agents conducting immigration operations.

According to local reports, the first incident involved a 37-year-old woman who was shot and killed by an immigration agent on January 7. The second incident occurred over the weekend when another 37-year-old citizen, described as a healthcare worker, was reportedly killed while attempting to document immigration enforcement activities.

Witness accounts and video footage allegedly show the healthcare worker being subjected to chemical irritants and physical force before being shot multiple times by agents. The individual was reportedly attempting to assist a woman who had been knocked down by enforcement personnel when the confrontation escalated.

“We all live in [the northern city] now, because [the city] is only the beginning of what they have in mind,” Cohen stated in a social media video, according to reports. “They’re coming for anyone, anywhere who doesn’t submit.”

The business leader characterized the federal immigration force as “a brazen, arrogant, masked militarized force” and suggested that citizens must now “submit” to the current administration or face potential violence for exercising constitutional rights.

Observers note that Cohen’s call for the agency’s dissolution reflects growing tensions over immigration enforcement methods in the country. The businessman proposed returning to the previous system that existed before 2001, when immigration matters were reportedly handled by a different agency under the justice department.

“Before 2001, [the current agency] did not even exist,” Cohen stated, according to reports. “Immigration issues used to be handled by the [previous agency], which was part of the Department of Justice. And it was just.”

The incidents have reportedly sparked broader criticism of the current administration’s immigration policies, with some regional officials drawing historical comparisons to authoritarian regimes. Critics argue that the enforcement tactics represent an escalation in the use of force against citizens who attempt to observe or document government operations.

The current immigration enforcement agency was established in 2003 following the September 11 attacks as part of broader security reforms. However, civil liberties advocates have long criticized its methods and scope of operations, particularly regarding interactions with citizens and documented residents.

Cohen also reportedly criticized lawmakers who publicly espouse religious values while supporting what he characterized as harsh immigration policies, citing biblical passages about welcoming strangers and loving one’s neighbors.

As is common in nations experiencing political polarization, the incidents have highlighted deep divisions over immigration policy and the appropriate use of federal enforcement powers. The administration has yet to respond to calls for the agency’s dissolution, though such demands have become increasingly common among opposition voices and civil rights advocates.