As anti-ICE protests rage on in California, an unexpected moment of compassion has taken the internet by surprise. Amid the chaos, Mexican restaurant workers were seen helping officers who had been pepper-sprayed during the demonstrations.
A now-viral video posted to Reddit, captured the striking scene: two armed officers from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, visibly in pain, seated inside a Mexican restaurant while surrounded by concerned staff.
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Their eyes were red and swollen, clearly affected by the chemical agents. Still, the restaurant workers showed no hesitation. A pair of employees gently fanned each officer, offering what appeared to be ice packs. Then, an elderly woman approached with a cup of milk and began tenderly rinsing one officer’s eyes.
As she carefully cleaned his face, another worker wiped the milk that dripped onto the officer’s uniform. The elderly woman’s expression revealed genuine concern for the suffering officer.
The footage quickly spread across social media, sparking a flood of emotional and conflicted responses. Many online users highlighted the cruel irony—those offering help might be the very people targeted by ICE policies.
“Now they will get a visit from ICE,” one user commented. Another echoed the sentiment: “And as soon as they’re done, they are being deported.”
One Redditor praised the woman’s kindness, only for another to respond, “Yep, and ICE will be there tomorrow to deport her probably.”
Others criticized the officers, calling out the hypocrisy of their role. “The same people they’re sent to show aggression towards. They have a choice of which side is right,” one user wrote.
Another added, “The same people they are ready to deport.” A more reflective comment read, “Gosh, I have really conflicting emotions about this. It really shows the type of people who make up the Mexican community. We need them in America. They make our country better.”
As protests continue in Los Angeles, confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement have intensified. The National Guard has reportedly deployed additional troops to control the unrest. As for the selfless Mexican workers, many hope their compassion doesn’t lead to cruel consequences.
