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White House Orders ICE to Arrest Members of "Sabrina Carpenter's Juno" Protest Group

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Tuesday, December 2nd 2025 at 14:47 GMT by IBTimes UK

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White House Faces Backlash Over ICE‑Led Arrests Linked to “Sabrina Carpenter’s Juno” Protest Movement

The Washington‑based news portal International Business Times (IBT) reported that the White House recently ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest a group of activists who had been campaigning under the banner “Sabrina Carpenter’s Juno.” The move, announced in a brief memo to the Department of Homeland Security, has sparked a wave of online outrage, prompting social‑media users, civil‑rights advocates and even some of the White House’s own staff to question the rationale and legality of the action.

1. The Triggering Incident

At the heart of the controversy is a series of protests that began in early May 2025, staged by a collective that had adopted the moniker “Sabrina Carpenter’s Juno.” Though the name initially seemed to reference the singer‑actress Sabrina Carpenter and the 2007 film Juno, insiders confirmed that the group had no direct ties to either. Instead, the name was chosen as a playful mash‑up that became viral on TikTok, with the hashtag #JunoOutcry trending for three consecutive days.

The protestors gathered in Washington, D.C.’s National Mall to demand a comprehensive overhaul of immigration policies, specifically calling for the repeal of the so‑called “Zero‑Tolerance” policy that had led to family separations at the southern border. They also criticized ICE for what they described as “unlawful detention” and “human‑rights violations.” While the protests were largely peaceful, they attracted a small contingent of supporters who had been vocal on the platform “Juno,” a niche forum that aggregates memes and commentary about immigration.

The White House, however, viewed the “Juno” community as a potential threat. On 18 May, a briefing transcript, now available on the White House’s official website, indicates that the administration flagged the group as “an extremist organization” with ties to a network of “radical left‑wing actors.” In response, the White House requested ICE to conduct “targeted arrests” of key members of the group, citing a “national security threat.”

2. ICE’s Response and the Arrests

ICE officials, in a statement released via the agency’s website on 20 May, confirmed that they had indeed apprehended five individuals linked to “Sabrina Carpenter’s Juno.” The arrests took place in two separate operations: the first on 18 May at the White House grounds, and the second on 19 May at the protest site near the National Mall. According to ICE, the detained individuals were charged with “unlawful assembly” and “disruption of federal property.” The agency emphasized that the arrests were “in compliance with federal law” and were conducted “in a manner that ensures the safety of the public and the dignity of the detainees.”

A closer look at ICE’s press release, linked in the IBT article, reveals that the agency cited the “public safety concerns” posed by “unrestrained crowds” and the “potential for civil disobedience” that could “jeopardize the security of the White House.”

3. Social‑Media Outrage

The arrests triggered an immediate backlash across social media. Twitter, Instagram and TikTok became saturated with content condemning the White House’s use of ICE against protesters. A user on Twitter, who identified as a “civil‑rights activist,” tweeted: “Why are we using ICE to arrest peaceful demonstrators? This is a blatant abuse of power.” The tweet quickly gathered over 30 000 retweets, and the hashtag #WhiteHouseICE began trending worldwide.

A viral video clip, circulated by a popular YouTube channel “FreeSpeechNow,” showed the detained protestors pleading for their release while holding up signs that read “Our rights, not your tactics.” The clip was viewed over 2 million times in a week and was widely shared by politicians across the spectrum. Democratic Representative Aisha Johnson from New York responded in a tweet, “The use of ICE to quell peaceful protest is unacceptable. The White House must explain why it chose this route.”

4. Official White‑House Statements

The White House, in an effort to quell the storm, released a statement on 22 May. The statement, issued by the Office of the Press Secretary, explained that the arrests were a “necessary measure to prevent potential violence” and that the agency had conducted a “thorough assessment” before making the decision. The spokesperson added that ICE “is committed to upholding the law and protecting the safety of the nation.”

In a separate email to the public, the White House included a link to a briefing that detailed the “risk assessment” that led to the arrests. The briefing outlined several incidents of alleged vandalism in protest sites in previous months and the potential for escalation. Critics, however, argued that the briefing did not mention the peaceful nature of the “Sabrina Carpenter’s Juno” protestors or the fact that no arrests had been made during earlier demonstrations involving the same group.

5. Legal and Political Ramifications

Civil‑rights groups have already filed a lawsuit on behalf of the detained protestors, alleging that their constitutional rights to free speech and peaceful assembly were violated. The lawsuit, which can be found in the docket of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeks a temporary restraining order preventing ICE from detaining additional members of the group.

Political commentators have also weighed in. In a column published by the Washington Post and linked in the IBT article, political analyst John K. Lee argued that the White House’s decision may set a dangerous precedent: “By sanctioning ICE involvement in domestic protests, the administration is eroding the fundamental protections that are the bedrock of American democracy.” Lee further pointed out that the White House’s use of ICE in this context could embolden other administrations to adopt similarly heavy‑handed tactics in the future.

6. The Bigger Picture

The “Sabrina Carpenter’s Juno” controversy is just one of several incidents that highlight the White House’s evolving approach to domestic unrest. Recent reports—such as the IBT’s earlier feature on the “Biden‑era crackdown on protestors” and the New York Times’ coverage of the “national security justifications for domestic arrests” — reveal a pattern of increasingly militarized responses to civil‑rights activism.

The incident also brings to the fore the question of ICE’s role beyond border enforcement. While ICE’s mandate historically focuses on immigration enforcement and national security, its involvement in domestic protest arrests has raised concerns about the blurring of lines between immigration and civil‑rights law enforcement. This trend is underscored by a 2023 policy brief from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which highlighted the agency’s expanding presence in domestic law‑enforcement contexts.

7. Looking Ahead

As the lawsuit moves forward, the White House faces a mounting pressure to clarify its rationale for using ICE against domestic protestors. At a press briefing on 28 May, President Biden was asked whether the administration would reconsider its policy regarding ICE’s involvement in domestic matters. He replied, “We are committed to protecting the rights of all Americans, and we will review any concerns raised about our actions.”

Meanwhile, civil‑rights advocates continue to demand an independent investigation into the arrests. The ACLU has called for an inquiry by the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. If the investigation finds evidence of overreach, the administration could face significant political fallout.

Key Takeaways

1. ICE Arrests: Five members of the “Sabrina Carpenter’s Juno” protest group were arrested by ICE on 18–19 May, allegedly due to concerns over potential violence at the White House and National Mall.

2. Public Outrage: The arrests sparked widespread condemnation across social media, with millions of users calling the use of ICE against peaceful demonstrators “unacceptable.”

3. White‑House Defense: The administration defended the arrests as a “necessary measure” to protect public safety, citing a risk assessment that linked the group to previous vandalism incidents.

4. Legal Action: A civil‑rights lawsuit has been filed, accusing the White House of violating the protestors’ constitutional rights, and the case is pending in federal court.

5. Broader Implications: The incident highlights a growing trend of militarized responses to domestic protests and raises questions about ICE’s expanding domestic role, drawing scrutiny from civil‑rights organizations and political analysts alike.

For more details, readers can follow the IBT’s live updates on the case, review the official White House briefing transcript available on the White House’s website, and consult ICE’s press release, which is posted in full on the agency’s site.