Voters at a Miami polling station got a shock on Sunday when a man showed up wearing a jacket marked “ICE” — and he wasn’t a federal agent.
Danilo Silva, 46, was arrested at the Miami Dade College Kendall Campus polling site, where Brazilian citizens were casting ballots in Brazil’s presidential election, according to NBC6.
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Video of the arrest spread like wildfire on social media, racking up tens of thousands of views as viewers expressed a mix of disbelief and outrage.
Silva was spotted wearing a dark blue jacket with “ICE” printed in large yellow letters on the sleeve — mimicking the gear worn by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. At a polling place serving immigrant voters, the stunt caused immediate alarm.
Police moved in and took Silva into custody. The exact charges he faces have not been fully detailed, but impersonating a federal officer is a serious federal crime that can carry years in prison.
The incident struck a nerve given the current climate around immigration enforcement. With ICE operations making national headlines, the sight of someone in a fake ICE jacket at a polling station — a place where many voters are immigrants themselves — was seen by many as an act of intimidation.
Social media reaction was swift and furious. Commenters called the act “voter intimidation” and demanded serious punishment, while others questioned what Silva was trying to accomplish.
Brazil’s presidential election draws huge turnout in South Florida, home to one of the largest Brazilian communities in the United States. The Kendall Campus site is one of the busiest Brazilian polling locations in the country.
Authorities have not said whether Silva has any connection to law enforcement or what his motive was.
One thing is clear: showing up to a polling place pretending to be ICE is a fast track to handcuffs — and Silva found that out the hard way.
