NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit returned for its season premiere with a storyline depicting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers as antagonists, sparking controversy over the show’s portrayal of federal agents.

The episode, titled In the Wind, centers around an illegal migrant named Ruiz who witnesses a rape and agrees to testify against the suspect in court.

NBC debuts new “Law & Order” season with episode that portrays ICE agents as the bad guyshttps://t.co/3zOqvH6Yu7

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As the trial approaches, Ruiz disappears, prompting Captain Olivia Benson to investigate.

She finds ICE agents at his apartment, and the character flees to avoid being detained by immigration authorities.

Assistant District Attorney Sonny Carisi then suggests that the rapist’s lawyer contacted ICE to orchestrate the raid in order to keep Ruiz from testifying.

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The episode introduces Ruiz’s past drug arrest from 15 years ago, which the SVU detectives frame as a “bogus charge.”

The narrative portrays Ruiz as a longtime resident who claims to have lived in the United States for 22 years while obeying the law and paying taxes.

His past drug charge is cast as unjust, while ICE officers are depicted as interfering with efforts to bring a rapist to justice.

The rapist character in the episode is portrayed as a white landlord accused of sexually assaulting two women in his building.

The storyline juxtaposes the pursuit of the suspect with repeated confrontations between ICE officers and SVU detectives, suggesting the federal agency is obstructing justice.

In one sequence, Ruiz questions why he should cooperate with the government when he faces the risk of deportation.

“So my choices are to run and hide and hope that they never find me or to just leave my whole life and just go back. And now you’re asking me to do something nice for my government? Why would I do that?” Ruiz asks Benson.

Benson replies, “You’re right. You’re absolutely right. And if you got up and walked out of here right now, nobody would blame you. But the fact of the matter is, Mr. Ruíz, you came in here tonight, which tells me that you want to do what’s right, whether or not you get something back in return.”

Later in the episode, ICE agents enter the squad room to arrest Ruiz. Benson briefly considers helping him escape, but Carisi persuades her against it.

Benson then instructs another detective to arrest Ruiz herself as a material witness, effectively shielding him from ICE custody.

Throughout the storyline, ICE officers are depicted as obstructive and hostile, while Ruiz is portrayed sympathetically as both a witness and a victim of circumstance.

The episode does not reference ICE’s role in apprehending thousands of offenders each year, including individuals charged with violent crimes, sexual assaults, and homicides.

Critics of the episode have noted that its framing leaves viewers with the impression that ICE agents protect criminals rather than remove them from communities.

The portrayal comes at a time when assaults and attacks on ICE facilities and personnel have been reported, raising concerns that negative depictions of the agency could fuel further hostility.

The long-running NBC series has been known for drawing inspiration from current events, often adapting storylines that touch on real-world controversies.

However, its decision to feature federal immigration officers as central antagonists in its season premiere has already drawn attention from observers who argue the show is presenting a distorted view of law enforcement.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit continues its current season on NBC with new episodes airing weekly.

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