Edmonds United Methodist Church hosts ‘ICE Out for Good’ vigil march

1. There were actually 225 people in attendance at our Vigil. Thank you for sharing our event in the paper. Grateful so many in our community came out.

   • Hi Diana – the editor (me) estimated the crowd size at 150 based on the sanctuary shots we received. This morning I heard that the pastor had estimated the crowd size at 180-200. So we’ll go with 200. — Teresa

     • With all due respect Teresa, I counted heads in the photo in this article, taken from the balcony. 164, plus others who might have been off the edges of the pews as well as those at the rear of the Sanctuary not shown in the photo, maybe a row or more left out that are under the balcony from which the photo was taken. By the empty jackets in the last row shown, some of them may have been lined up. However, I was among those in the balcony and none of those are among the ones standing in line. Also, once we lined up there were still others in several (at least four, maybe six?) rows of chairs outside the Sanctuary and another dozen or more in the balcony. I am going with Diana’s count as more accurately reflecting the number in attendance. I don’t know how Diana counted, however if she says there were actually 225, I would trust her to have counted to make that claim.

       • Thanks Lora (and Diana) — I’ll change the count to 225 to reflect the official record.

2. Crowd size is indicative of Edmond’s lack of
   foresight . Too many wealthy are content. They by their refusal to right clearly what is wrong is a
   testimony to their mindset and commitment to
   tolerance of evil. However, if unable to see
   evil, then you support evil whether you know evil or don’t know evil. Clearly, support of evil militates against God. Can it be said that these
   attendees are regular attendees of this Congregation? What other congregations were represented? It seems to follow that other denominations and congregations absent
   Implies complicity with evil.

3. I agree with Diana, I was grateful for all who attended and showed solidarity in the message that we MUST stand for justice for all people! Many thanks to all who planned the vigil and worked to make it happen.

4. Many thank yous to Pastor Smith and all of the wonderful parishioners who organized the vigil last night. It was wonderful to see so many in our community come together.

   • How blessed it would have appeared if more Cleric’s names were added to this short list of
     One, who stood up for truth. Where are the rest?

     • The rest are out trying to please God rather than pleasing men.

5. This appears to be yet another iteration of the “Defund the Police” initiatives, mainly supported by the Democratic Party. It is noteworthy to observe local public officials effectively opposing law enforcement. They may justify their dubious anti-law stances indefinitely, yet this does not render them any more defensible.

   • Are you kidding? Seriously? A group of people are actually doing something Christian in the name of Christianity and you find something wrong in that? Shame. On. You.

     • So you think a woman trying to run over a law enforcement officer with a 4,000 lb vehicle is Christian. That must be some wacky Church.

       • You might want to watch the video analysis of the event at https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/video/ice-shooting-renee-good-minneapolis-videos.html?unlocked_article_code=1.FFA.onQ_.UHJ3zFA5LIrh&smid=url-share

         Moreover, there has been no official investigation, and the emergency services logs say he was first taken to a federal building.

         I submit that any decent church would object to this killing, but clearly you differ.

       • Thanks to all for your comments. Closing this thread now.

6. What about the criminals that ICE is trying to apprehend? Are we supposed to protect them? I’m waiting to see how God’s hand works with this. Our safety is a serious situation.

   • Who is objecting to arresting real criminals? I believe the vast majority of us support genuine law enforcement, but object fundamentally to the methods employed – armed, masked “officers” with a fraction of the training needed or required by real police, ICE sending in a thousand reinforcements to Minneapolis, shooting civilians, bounties, recruitment bonuses far surpassing anything our real police can hope for, “You haven’t learned” threats…

     I speak only for myself, but what I want to see is humane and decent enforcement of our laws. And we are seeing the opposite.

     Do you really want streets and home dominated by ill-trained, heavily-armed, masked ICE troops who are pepper spraying bystanders who see their brutal behavior?

     Law enforcement should inspire trust and respect – not fear.

     • Looks like hiring bonuses for Seattle police are the same amount for a ice officer. A maximum of 50 grand.

       • Your point being that this somehow excuses the abandonment of decency and humanity in how we enforce our laws? Deflection.

     • Thank you

   • No, your safety is not a serious concern – not by “illegal immigrants. ” Let ‘s not get all Karen-ey here. It’s just this sort of hogwash statement that shows that you’re out-of-touch and have a penchant for over-dramatization. Would be laughable if it wasn’t so sad.

7. Brian – I vehemently support our Edmonds PD, and any local law enforcement who act legally. I am not anti law and I take exception with your remarks. I also vehemently support peacefully protest, which is what happened this weekend in Lynnwood and Edmonds. I will not be quiet about injustice.

8. Chris, I need to point out that ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is a federal law enforcement agency. While I appreciate your support for peaceful protest, as I do, there have been many instances, like what happened in Minneapolis and in mostly other blue state communities, that don’t meet that standard. Interfering with ICE law enforcement is a federal crime. “ICE OUT For Good” is clearly an attempt to delegitimize legitimate law enforcement actions. Such movements have been typical Democratic Party strategies, which you are obviously aligned with at both the national and local levels. Nice try, Chris, but you might want to work on your story a bit if you want to convince anyone outside your own bubble.

   • Interesting.

     To keep bringing up one of my affiliations is a simplistic view, in my opinion, and I’m the first to say you are fully entitled to your views. I have had a full life and career of decades with many broad, diverse experiences and learning so to keep reducing me to one facet is very curious. I’m curious why that is. It’s seems one dimensional.

     And I never said I was for interference. This issue much larger than that. I am against illegality. And I wonder how the hundreds of people in south County, thousands of people in WA, and millions of people across the nation who feel as I do would consider the bubble remark.

9. Before people pass judgment on ICE, POLICE, or NATIONAL GUARD, I would remind you that there are always 2 sides to every story and incident. Then there’s the truth. Please examine all aspects, including the psychological, before condemning those hired to try to protect us. This was more than a simple case of random shooting.

10. Brian! Rule of law requires the transparency
    of truth. In the absence of truth, law becomes lawless, and good is sacrificed for evil.
    This is that struggle, between Good and evil.
    Deny that as you will, but only truth will set us free. The law convicts and binds one under the law never setting them free. Man’s law is wesponized and relativized. Evil behind law
    Renders that law evil. Law never sets us free.

11. Law enforcement in this country arrest more than 20 thousand people a day according to Google but for some reason that is good but federal law enforcement arresting about 1000 a day is worth protesting over? Not to mention most of the people being picked up are not people you want to be your neighbors, the mental gymnastics or cognitive dissonance is over the top with this one.

12. As a Mexican American citizen Born & raised here in the good old USA. Ice and federal agents are doing a job. I don’t want criminals living next to me and believe me. I know plenty of them. I don’t think you want them in your neighborhood as well.
    There’s a lot of good people and families working hard here in the u.S and our mexican citizens, they are just trying to survive. Illegal is illegal at the end of the day.
    If they don’t belong here, send them back, nothing wrong with that.
    Some families waited ten to fifteen years to get their papers.You think it’s right to get in front of the line and not have people upset about that?Well, you have a lot of mexican families upset about that.They know as well as anybody else.That’s not fair

13. Officials at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, are planning to spend $100 million over a one-year period to recruit gun rights supporters and military enthusiasts through online influencers and a geotargeted advertising campaign. That’s according to The Washington Post, which reports it’s part of what the agency called a “wartime recruitment” strategy aimed at hiring thousands of new deportation officers nationwide. The recruitment drive is targeted at people who have attended UFC fights, listened to far-right podcasts or shown an interest in guns and tactical gear. It uses the ad-industry technique known as “geofencing” to send ads to people who set foot near military bases, NASCAR races, college campuses or gun shows.
    – ICE Plans $100 Million “Wartime Recruitment” Campaign Targeting Military and Firearms Enthusiasts | Democracy Now!

    Is this the country and is this the “law enforcement” you want?

14. President Obama deported over 5 million illegal immigrants. He put them in cages. I guess that was okay. But because people hate Trump they protest everything he does. If Trump saved kittens from a burning house, people would find fault. Its a sickness
    Trump derangement syndrome

    • It is interesting how Trump Derangement Syndrome effects Trump supporters who appear to believe that criticism of the president and his policies is simplistically the result of hatred. It never occurs to them that “hatred” may stem from fundamental moral and philosophical rejection of the president’s policies, statements and behavior – and the actions of his appointees. To call such disagreement a “syndrome,” they feel, magically excuses them from the task of actually examining the grounds for deploring the president’s actions and corruption. Then they wheel out the tired old “but Obama did it” excuse, which makes no more sense than “Bobby did it first”. Obama left the White House almost ten years ago; Trump is now – what may or may not have happened those years ago – and it’s never simple – is wholly irrelevant.

      Trump Derangement Syndrome – the blind belief that Trump is beyond criticism, coupled with a visceral reluctance to look at the whole picture, or listen to any criticism or opposing news source.

15. You said bonuses far surpassing what real police get. That statement is just false. 25 percent of our military become police officers do you decry them as military enthusiasts also? We wouldn’t need so many agents if they got cooperation from state and local law enforcement we wouldn’t need as many agents if they didn’t have to protect themselves from violent mobs gined up by Democrat leaders.

    • So Jim, you’re okay with this sort of thing?

      Craig: “In my district, 2 days ago a special ed teacher pulled into her school parking lot, her windows were smashed, she was taken & detained for 12 hours. I’ve never seen such an out of control agency.
      And
      A protester is currently lying in a hospital bed with a piece of shrapnel in his neck 7mm from his carotid artery. While he lay bleeding on the pavement, blinded in his left eye, gasping for air, agents did not call a medic. They dragged him and sneered: “You’re going to lose your eye.”

16. As more details come out on this Minnesota event, the report states the agent experienced internal bleeding from being hit (this reported by CBS News). This would suggest she weaponized her vehicle. Truly devastating for both parties involved, including their families. That said, I’m confused why ANYONE would stand in the way of agents hunting down illegals and criminals who are a potential threat to everyone? Why not a vigil for the young ladies killed and raped by illegals? Why not disgust for those in power who don’t enforce the laws? Why is there a celebration of someone who clearly did not think about her kids enough to disengage and follow a lawful order? I’m all for immigration as long as there are checks and balances, the individuals are vetted, and become part of the American traditions. What is one country I can illegally “move” to, not assimilate to their culture, and expect not to be confronted?

    • That’s too bad, if true (no real investigation has yet taken place, to the best of my knowledge. But the whole situation could easily have been avoided by letting her go and taking down the license number and turning it over to the police. No matter how we stack it, three shots and a death far outweigh any version of the situation. It is not the enforcement of immigration laws that so many object to – it’s the HOW.

      Reported today from Minneapolis: Last night ICE agents shot a protester in the leg and put six children in the hospital. The kids were in a car with their Dad who was trying to get them out of the neighborhood. ICE threw a flash bang into the car.

      Not the way to enforce our laws or inspire cooperation and respect.

      • Just in: 21-year-old activist injured by ICE:

        “I will be blind for life. I have fractures in my skull that they can’t fix. They pulled a piece of plastic the size of a nickel out of my eye. I had shards of metal, glass, and plastic behind my eye and in my skull. They said it was a miracle I survived.”:

        The pictures are horrendous, yet some seem to feel that this is proportionate response.

    • So you’re saying you watched the video and somehow you saw him get internal injuries? Give me a break. No one deserves to die like that. The punishment did not fit the cause. You are all losing your humanity and the person in power is bringing out that hurt in all of the hurt people who believe everyone should hurt the same way they did at one point. Most of these “criminals” are of zero threat and absolutely do assimilate into society. If this happend to her, it can happen to any of us and if that doesn’t scare you, well, they did their job brainwashing you.

      • I’m thinking “internal bleeding” is a deceptive, inflammatory, divisive way to report “bruising”.

      • Interesting way to twist my words, Cheryl. But not unexpected. I find it interesting that people who don’t hold the same perspective or viewpoint as me often want to take the conversation personal. If you actually got to know me, you’d probably discover there are areas we agree on – and we can disagree without suggesting I’m being brainwashed. Having served this country and having read the data on the those who crossed into our country illegally – the majority were young men (18-34) – many with criminal backgrounds. That becomes a threat inside our walls. I also find it interesting that no one has answered my questions yet:Why not a vigil for the young ladies killed and raped by illegals? and What is one country I can illegally “move” to, not assimilate to their culture, and expect not to be confronted?

        • 48,377 out of 65,735—or 73.6% held in ICE detention have no criminal conviction according to data current as of November 30, 2025. Many of those convicted committed only minor offenses, including traffic violations.
          – https://tracreports.org/immigration/quickfacts
          Of people booked into ICE custody this fiscal year (since October 1, 2025):
          • Nearly three in four (73 percent) had no criminal conviction.
          • Nearly half had no criminal conviction nor even any pending criminal charges.
          • Only 8 percent had a violent or property criminal conviction.
          • Only 5 percent had a violent criminal conviction.
          • A majority of criminal convicts had vice, immigration, or traffic convictions.
          – Cato Institute

          Can you give us statistics on the “women raped and killed by illegals”? Such things are deplorable – but how great is the problem?

          Meanwhile. we’ll have a vigil to protest the violence of ICE gangs against citizens and non-citizens.

17. Obama’s ICE and Border Patrol agents deported millions of immigrants. Some had criminal records. Some did not. Families were separated. There was outrage and lawsuits at the time about this action. Times and circumstances were different. Some previous directors have commented about these changes and the effects on ICE behaviors. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/10/14/former-ice-director-q-a-00603916
    It is true that in many cases state and city officials cooperated more with ICE officers during Obama’s term than they do now. States and cities learned that cooperation created problems. For example, police would have to wait for ICE officers who they notified to come and pick up people in jail. Too often these people were held after they were legally allowed to go free, which created due process problems. Now the practice in some communities is ICE takes care of their business and communities take care of theirs. Conservatives call these sanctuary cities. I personally gave Obama and Biden some leeway because they wanted to solve the immigration issues of the Dreamers, young children who know nothing more than life in the USA. I feel that problems with ICE now are related in part to the problems that began with deportations under Obama, 1st Trump and Biden administrations. Compounded now by ICE overstepping Trump’s campaign stance of going after only felons. Being in the country without documentation is a misdemeanor.

18. It’s a total waste of time to try to debate any of this with the MAGA faithful. Trump is the savior and can do no wrong – end of story. “Only I can fix it” has become the model of government we now live under. Don’t blame Trump, as he has a personality disorder and can’t help himself. (Normal people don’t seek revenge on everyone who has ever said a negative word about them). Blame the people who think policemen in Masks killing unharmed citizens for just about any reason is normal and necessary, (but only in the obviously corrupt Blue States of course). Things like this can’t go on in a free society unless they are enabled by people who think they benefit from it all somehow.

19. Nathaniel, do you know where and when the next demonstration opposing ICE tactics will be? I will want to attend in order to show my objection to their way of operating, their weak training (47 days to honor Trump’s 47th presidency), and their use of an arbitrary quota system to guide their actions.
    As Congressman John Lewis pointed out, there are times when “Good Trouble” is called for. I believe the time is now. As unjustly as the police acted against the protesters on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Alabama in Lewis’ time, I want to protest the unjust actions of ICE officers around the country. I will not be protesting against the existence of ICE as a federal agency.

    • Michael – I believe this is what you’re looking for:

      https://myedmondsnews.com/2026/01/protest-in-lynnwood-vigil-in-edmonds-planned-following-ice-shootings/

20. Amazing how common sense doesn’t exist any more. So many defend the criminals and law breakers over the victims and lawbreakers.
    Wonder how many of you defending them would feel if it was your child, your parent or your friend who was a victim of one of these folks who were allowed into the country unvetted. If you came into the country illegally, you gambled and if caught, by law need to go back.

    Joe Biden and his crew decided it was ok to allow in 10 million illegally with no vetting. So maybe you should put the blame on the previous administration for causing the mess. But due to the TDS affecting the D side, that will never happen.
    So maybe thank an Officer, yes local and federal for doing a thankless job trying to keep some sanity in society Because one side(far left) of society seems to be itching for a fight. Should all heck break loose, don’t call on those who you literally spit on.

21. As has been pointed out over and over, the objection is to the HOW – gangs of masked, armed men on the streets; brutal treatment of those arrested, whether legal or not legal; agents refusing to believe or accept ID showing citizenship; children traumatized; US citizens arrested; agents swearing at and threatening bystanders; indiscriminate use of pepper spray; shootings; agents indicted for various crimes still hired, even medical aid to Good denied.

    Biden is not president; casting blame for current brutalities on him is irrelevant to the discussion of ICE brutality and is typical of the real TDS – the inability of some people to find any fault with the soviet-style behavior of ICE agents and the ongoing lies pouring out from Noem and the president about what happened to Good, and who she was.

    Arrest and deport, yes. But with brutal, barely trained armed bands? Emphatically no! Decency, firmness, humanity – those are American values – or were.

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