Synthetic Media: AI and ICE

By Gary Bond, Zinnia Perez, Hana Isa, and Alana Moczygemba

There have been vast amounts of synthetic media circulating about ICE-related events. This is an important and sensitive topic that impacts many communities. An individual by the name of Mike Wayne posted all of these videos and we decided to analyze four of them. We can learn that this account is dedicated solely to AI-generated content, mainly revolving around ICE and MAGA (often switching political sides).The main motivation behind posting these videos is a combination of different factors, mainly economic and political. Posting videos on social media that end up going viral leads to profit, which is a leading motivator behind the creator’s intent. Additionally, the creator wants to spark political turmoil through social media by posting polarizing videos.

Principal Fights ICE in Front of School

Artificially generated videos have taken the internet by storm, often revolving around sensationalizing content meant to ensnare consumers who lack the skills and knowledge needed to identify them. The massive volume of this form of digital media does not exist just by chance; as researchers Loni Hagen et al. emphasize, the abundance of AI-generated content on social media stems from its heavily persuasive nature and its ability to be distributed at an “unprecedented scale” (Hagen et al. 1231-1234). Oftentimes, however, AI-generated content is blatant and serves another, more obscure purpose: distribute the material to satisfy the increasingly insatiable demand for rapid entertainment. In this short clip of a school principal defending his students against ICE agents who show up at the school’s doorsteps, content creator Mike Wayne exemplifies both purposes. An incident in January of 2026 highlights the implications of content such as this. Local police of the South Bay/San Jose community had to dispatch officers to calm the people who were anxious about the presence of ICE agents in their neighborhoods. However, it soon came to light that the photos distributed of these “ICE agents” were artificially generated, intending to be a prank. As highlighted by the news article relating this story, “‘Spreading false information causes real fear and harm in our community,’ the Rapid Response Network wrote after dispatching volunteers to check the block” (Ng).

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Annotations

00:00 - 00:02

The principal hitting the ICE agent immediately evokes shock, serving as a hook that keeps the audience watching. Similar to many other sensational news clips or videos created to cause social outrage, this short begins with a high level of tension brewing between the two parties involved: dutiful ICE agents and the determined public school. The principal is portrayed as the leader, protector, and hero in the video; the communicator aims to elicit a moral connection with the audience. The ICE agents, on the other hand, are shown as weak, apathetic, and unfocused. They are shown rushing into the entrance, seemingly without a purpose for what to do with the principal or the students, when the principal recklessly decides to hit one of the agents.

Pathos

Communicator

00:02 - 00:07

In this portion of the clip, the principal is yelling at the ICE agents to go away. He's defending his students, showing how far he is willing to go for them. This is representative of other teachers, all around America, who are standing with their students who may be immigrants. The ethos of the video comes from the primary actor in the video being a principal of a school (a figure of authority, respect, and discipline). Furthermore, the tone of the principal is exemplified through his direct speech as well as the method of delivery; the principal yells in an angry, heated, and assertive manner.

Ethos

Tone

00:07 - 00:12

This portion shows the children in the background yelling and seemingly cheering on the principal, adding to the chaotic atmosphere of the situation. The purpose for this segment is to try to convince the audience that this is a real school environment, with children directly being affected by the issue at hand. The children seem to be of different age ranges and are exhibiting varying levels of engagement with the contention between the principal and the ICE agents; some students are even yelling directly at the ICE agents, supporting the principal’s efforts. The purpose of the students’ placement outside of the school building is to emphasize the level of disruption the ICE agents have caused this small, seemingly impoverished school.

Logos

Purpose

00:12 - 00:15

In this section, the principal is yelling, "This is a safe place, you hear me!" This evokes the audience's empathy for the principal, based on how much he 'cares' for his students. Similar to his other angry speech towards the ICE agents later on in the clip, the principal underscores how his school is not open to intrusion, oppression, and unlawful prosecution. The tone is intense, and the ethos of this portion stems from the principal’s overall demeanor and confidence. The hyper-realistic image of the principal defending his pupils evokes a sense of trust and authority, despite the entirety being artificially generated.

Ethos

Tone

00:13 - 00:15

The video shows that one of the children is wearing a hoodie that reads "ICE." This is inconsistent with the purpose and message of the clip, as the student is supposedly showing support for the political entity. Rhetorically, the video loses ethos when subtle inconsistencies like this occur, thereby weakening the audience's trust in the account, video, and content. If the audience catches the mistake, they are likely not to be persuaded by the video as they may have realized that it is AI-generated, or possibly staged, thinking it is a satirical or ironic representation. The fact that the child’s clothing appears near the end of the video lowers the chances of the audience pinpointing this mistake, which may have been an intentional measure taken by the communicator of the video.

Ethos

Audience

Communicator

00:13 - 00:15

Near the end of the video, it is seen that the principal seemingly “steps through” the solid metal divider in the middle of the stair steps. Additionally, the sign above the school entrance reads a series of random letters and numbers, which is atypical of a school’s foundation, regardless of class, level, and location. This is a clear error from part of the AI’s generation, as it fails to capture the full context behind a school’s structure and how physics works in real life. This may also lead to the audience doubting the video’s authenticity, primarily because the video lacks a clear line of logos.

Context

Logos

ICE Agents at a Latin Restaurant

This AI generated video shows a group of 3 to 4 ICE agents and a server at a Latin restaurant. It is a seemingly ordinary setting, but the presence of ICE agents creates tension because they have become a politically charged issue in the United States. The video likely exists to comment on this political climate. By placing ICE agents in a culturally specific setting, like this Spanish restaurant, the video highlights irony and invites viewers to question the relationship between cultural consumption and ICE. It appears designed to provoke engagement by tapping into ongoing national debates about immigration and identity. Since this is an AI generated video, the creators are not documenting a real event but constructing a simulated scenario meant to resemble reality. By using AI to fabricate a plausible and emotionally charged situation, the video blurs the line between fiction and lived experience. It exists not as journalism, but as a commentary using artificial realism to engage audiences in the broader debate.

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00:00 - 00:02

This AI generated video shows a server and three to four ICE agents seated at a Mexican/Spanish restaurant. The server is visibly upset and begins to yell at the ICE agents about them disrupting the normalcy of so many people’s lives. She is likely especially upset because the culture they are enjoying is one that is shared by people that they predominantly affect. In the background of the video, a generally calm restaurant can be seen and the other customers hardly react. This is likely because everyone in this video is AI generated and thus, would not have a ‘normal’ reaction to someone shouting. The agents' semi-shocked expressions establish a sharp tonal contrast between authority and public backlash. This frames the encounter as conflict rather than casual interaction.

Pathos

Tone

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Audience

00:02 - 00:04

As she continues to yell, the server throws food (orange juice with strange AI generated physics and a full plate of food) at the ICE agents, transforming a cultural symbol of hospitality into a tool of protest. The ICE agents seem somewhat fed up with the backlash which, if they were real, would likely be coming from a lot of people they interact with. This physical act intensifies the emotional appeal and visually dramatizes rejection. The agents' continued shock reinforces their portrayal as unprepared for public resistance. The other people in the restaurant continue to mildly react to the scene playing out in front of them. There are two ladies in matching outfits in the background that are the only ones that are visibly frightened.

00:04 - 06:00

One of the ICE agents briefly shouts "No!" in response, but their reaction lacks physical realism. The neon orange juice does not visibly stain their clothes, and they make no effort to clean themselves. This detail exposes the constructed nature of the video and destabilizes its ethos. The artificialty raises questions about credibility, that is, the scenario feels emotionally real, yet physically implausible. Their underwhelming response may suggest emotional fatigue, implying that backlash is common for them, it may simply reflect incomplete AI prompting. Either way, the lack of realistic reaction contributes to the rhetorical message. ICE agents appear to attempt normalcy even in moments of confrontation. The artificial realism highlights how AI can simulate political conflict while subtly revealing its own fabrication.

Ethos

Tone

Message

Communicator

00:07 - 00:08

The restaurant patrons remain largely passive observers. Two women in matching outfits appear mildly frightened, but the overall reaction is subdued. In a real-life scenario, such an outburst would likely produce stronger reactions, management involvement, or visible chaos. The muted background response signals the artificial construction of the scene and weakens its realism. This detail complicates the video’s persuasive strategy. While the conflict is emotionally intense, the environment lacks authentic social dynamics. The AI simulation attempts to replicate everyday life but cannot fully reproduce spontaneous human behavior. This reinforces how the video uses artificial realism to dramatize political tension while subtly exposing the limits of AI-generated storytelling.

Ethos

Audience

Tone

Message

00:08 - 00:10

The server demands that the ICE agents leave, escalating the confrontation from symbolic protest to attempted expulsion. The restaurant, typically a site of cultural enjoyment and communal gathering, becomes a space of resistance. This final moment reinforces the central group theme: ICE agents attempt to move through everyday life as though everything is normal, yet their presence renders that normalcy unstable for others. There have been countless articles that collect anecdotes of people fearful of leaving their homes (Carcamo). Even though the video is AI-generated and depicts a fabricated scenario, the emotional reaction it seeks to provoke is real. The artificial construction allows the creator to stage political irony without documenting an actual event. This blurring of fiction and realism amplifies persuasion while complicating trust, authorship, and ethical representation.

Message

Purpose

Pathos

Audience

06:00 - 00:07

The agents stand up from their seats, possibly to assert dominance over the server. This shift in posture visually reinforces instiutional authority. By physically elevating themselves, they attempt to reclaim control of the space. However, the gesture lacks escalation; no one intervenes, and the confrontation remains contained. The background diners continue reacting mildly, which feels unnatural and underscores the AI-generated environment. This moment reinforces the theme of abnormality. The agents attempt to behave as though this is a routine inconvenience, yet their presence has already disrupted the social atmosphere. The act of standing symbolizes authority reasserting itself, even when challenged within a culturally significant space.

Message

Tone

Pathos

Purpose

Elderly Woman Resists ICE

This video depicts an elderly woman's confrontation with two ICE agents who are presumably intending to arrest either the woman or some other person who lives in the area. The officers claim that their investigation is lawful, but the woman points out that they do not have a warrant and therefore their claim is false. This video aims to demonstrate an example of an average citizen sticking up to the ICE officers. The goal with doing so is not clear from the video alone, but there are some potential theories. One possible motivation for Wayne uploading the video, assuming it is meant to be depicting a real life event, is to show an example of ICE acting outside of the law, in the hopes that they may face consequences for acting against their stated purpose of upholding the law. In the same vein, Wayne may also be trying to encourage and inspire hope in those who wish to resist ICE by showing an elderly woman standing up to ICE, despite likely being less powerful than the officers both in physical terms and in societal position. Lastly, a more cynical, but likely more accurate reason that Wayne uploaded the video is to gain financial and attention benefits that could come from those who have heard about ICE's actions and especially those who have strong opinions on those actions. Regardless of the truthfulness of the video, doing a rhetorical analysis on this video is still a useful exercise as it gives an example of the kind of techniques that could be used to criticize both ICE and the current presidential administration that are calling for and supporting their actions. However, the likely synthetic nature of the video can also provide some insights on how that fact may affect the audience's perception of the video's message and how seriously they take the video should they deem it synthetic.

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00:00 - 00:02

At the beginning of this video, the elderly woman claims that the ICE officers would not "get to scare folks on [her] block" while she is around. Here we can infer that the elderly woman and the others on the block are all stakeholders in this situation. The audience would like know from current events that the ICE officers plan to arrest those who were deemed to have been in the country illegally, so they could conclude that the freedom of the elderly woman and of others who live on that block would be on the line. The elderly woman also presents herself as a heroic figure by claiming to be the force that prevents the ICE officers from harming those who live on the block. This heroic presentation can be seen as an appeal to ethos as the audience is more apt to see the woman in a positive light since she is trying to protect those who are vulnerable.

Stakeholder

Ethos

Message

00:00 - 00:10

Throughout the video, the appearances of both the elderly woman and the ICE officers are wearing have some oddities that could hint at the video having synthetic origins. The texture of the elderly woman's hair appears a bit blurry in the video and the colors of her hair and scarf seem unrealistically vibrant. The uniforms of the ICE officers seem to have minor differences from one another with the one farther from the camera having an extra chest bar saying "police". Furthermore, the officer further away from the camera seems to have "ICE" listed twice on the top chest bar, reading "ICEICE". The contents of the top chest bar cannot be 100% confirmed, however, since the officer in front obscures the right side of the chest bar. These oddities could potentially damage the credibility of the communicator since these discrepancies would likely make the audience dismiss the video as fake and the communicator as acting disingenuous.

Ethos

Communicator

00:00 - 00:10

This video appears to take place outside some apartment complex, presumably the home of the elderly woman depicted in the video or somewhere near her home. The choice of this setting likely is meant to hit closer to home for the audience, many of whom may live in apartments that are similar enough to the one depicted here. However, this building has numerous oddities that contribute to a case for this video being synthetic. The most notable oddity are the stair rails on the side melding into each other in an impossible manner. One rail extends parallel to the rail closest to the camera, while the other extends perpendicular to that rail. Furthermore, what seem to be windows on the side of the building are inconsistently sized between the lowest floor and higher floors. This video being perceived as fake could result potentially result in people dismissing the video completely and disregarding the message expressed in the video.

Context

Pathos

Ethos

00:02 - 00:05

At this point in the video, the officers are responding to the elderly woman's claim that they are acting unjustly by claiming that they are performing a "lawful investigation". This is an attempt at appealing logos since they are giving a particular reason for their actions. Their job as officers is to investigate and handle violations of the law and they are claiming that their actions as depicted in this video align with that job. The fact that the officers are claiming to do their job also gives them a stake in this video as if they fail to do their job properly, it can be concluded that they stand the risk of losing it.

Logos

Stakeholder

Message

00:05 - 00:07

At this point in the video, the elderly woman being depicted questions the lawfulness of the ICE officers' actions in this video, noting that they "don't even have a warrant with a judge's name on it". This information damages the credibility of the ICE officers since they seem to be acting outside the law while claiming that they are acting within the law. There is also an element of logos in her statement since the elderly woman is responding to the counterargument that presented by the officers that they are conducting a "lawful investigation" by giving an example of a law that they are violating in their investigating, that being them needing a warrant before performing the investigation that they are attempting to do.

Ethos

Logos

Message

00:07 - 00:09

In this interval, the elderly woman says that "[she] knows her rights [and] so does everyone watching". In this statement, there is both ethos and pathos at play here. For ethos, the elderly woman claims to have knowledge of the rights that the laws of the United States gives her, so the audience is more inclined to trust her conclusion due to her being informed of the topic of this situation. For pathos, the elderly woman's statement appeals to the audience in the way that she claims that they also are familiar with the topic at hand, which presents the evidence that she uses in her argument (officers requiring a warrant to perform an investigation) as common knowledge. Therefore, the audience would be more likely to side with the woman in this video because of that common knowledge.

Ethos

Pathos

Message

ICE Agents Chased by "Drag Queens"

This video is depicting a group of 5 people wearing brightly colored jackets, chasing 2 ICE agents. There seems to be a person reporting about the chase that is ongoing. It depicts these people as the aggressors to the point that the agents have to run away, even running on top of a parked car. The video also seems to imply that because these people are wearing bright coats they are believed to be drag queens. The purpose of this video is to gain followers and engagement. The poster, Mike Wayne, seems to take the side of the public, but generally he makes these videos to get clicks or even negative views. He wants people to watch and share his content, which leads to the spread of misinformation. This video shows how people are spreading AI content that makes the public look like the aggressors. They never show any context before the moment that regular citizens get upset, so it seems as though they are getting mad for no reason. However, based on real life, oftentimes people become defensive when Ice agents are being aggressive. A rhetorical analysis can offer a perspective on how these videos showing a group of people to be the aggressors against ICE agents can be continuing a harmful rhetoric.

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00:00 - 00:02

There is a 'news reporter' speaking in the background of this video. This reporter is describing the scene that is happening on the street. By having a news reporter, people are more likely to believe what is going on in this video as they are often trusted to give out correct information. It also allows for the context to be better understood, so that anyone who stumbles upon this video can get the version of the story that this creator made up. This can create many issues for actual reporters and people who watch the news. By including a 'reporter', the creator has made this video seem like a trustworthy source and that can harm those who watch it or are included in it. "That confusion can lead individuals to feel justified in taking actions based on narratives that aren’t grounded in reality, which is where the real danger lies—not just in the content itself, but in how it’s interpreted and acted upon,” Arter says."(Parham).The tone is also set up by using this 'reporters' voice, as it makes it seem like this is a real and serious event happening.

Context

Message

Stakeholder

Logos

00:02 - 00:04

This video shows a group of five people who are wearing colorful coats chasing two ice agents across a snowy road. The ice agents and the 'drag queens' are running with no trouble, not slipping on the road at all even though there is a large amount of snow on the sidewalks. One ice agent breaks off from the other, runs over the top of the car, and then lands on the road with no difficulty at all. This section is a show of ethos as it is displaying the 'drag queens' chasing ice agents with no other context beforehand. This is also a show of the creators message, that ice agents are being chased out by a well known group of people and the agents are not welcomed in this area. Lastly, it shows major stakeholders, the 'drag queens'. Drag queens are a huge part of many political and social debates, "By labeling these communities “criminals,” S-Comm and other similar programs undermine the ability of communities and policymakers to create long-term solutions to these critical issues."(We're coming out against the Ice Secure Communities Program), if this video were seen and shared by the wrong people, the community could get backlash for actions that they had no participation in.

Message

Stakeholder

Ethos

00:02 - 00:07

This section shows some discrepancies that make this video less credible. The first is the ease in which the ICE agent runs up and over the car. He seemingly just steps up onto the car, over the roof, and back on the ground running with no difficulty or even proper steps. Another thing that makes this video odd is the way the sidewalks and road are set up. There is no snow or ice on the road even though most of the cars are covered in snow. Even if the roads were salted or swept, there would still be a lot more evidence of snow. The sidewalk on the right hand side are wider and taller than the other on the left. These inconsistencies, although not very obvious, make the videos less reliable or credible. If someone who didn't understand how important these little deviations matter were to see this video, they might be more likely to believe this type of content. This could be motivating to people who are a part of anti-ICE movements as it shows people taking action against an organization that they are opposed to. “But the question is not whether these videos are helpful. The question is what they tell us about this country, that people must fabricate images of their own liberation because the real thing remains out of reach. These videos are not delusion. They are diagnosis. A people does not dream this loudly of fighting back unless they have learned that the systems meant to protect them will not.”(Parham)

Exigence

Ethos

Purpose

00:04 - 00:06

In this segment, the 'reporter' states, "They are ICE agents.". This statement helps to specify that these are a specific agency being targeted and not just an overall representation of all law enforcement agencies. This allows the person who posted this video to get more attention. Regardless of the harm that a video like this may cause, as news of ICE and Drag Queens, are constantly under the microscope. According to a Wired article, "Currying political capital online involves demonstrating that the opinions you hold are widely held while also engineering viral content that aligns with your views..."(Parham), this shows that even though the person who posts this may get negative feedback, those who are the subject of these videos may face real consequences.

Context

Stakeholder

00:06 - 00:09

The people are running after the ice agents and the announcer has stated that there are four individual chasing after the agents, showing that the software may not recognize the amount of people in the group. This segment of the video states, "They are being pursued now by four people in bright winter attire...". By stating that there are only four individuals, it ruins the credibility that they had at the beginning. There are clearly five distinct people in coats, but because the people in the generated video seems to cross paths it cannot distinguish all people. "Without proper oversight, AI systems may unintentionally reinforce biases, making it essential to implement ethical guidelines and transparency measures to promote fairness and equality."(Guirguis) By allowing these videos that are spreading misinformation, people are able to perpetuate harmful stereotypes and make it more difficult for certain communities to get fair treatment.

Ethos

Exigence

Stakeholder

00:09 - 00:10

This segment specifically identifies these people as Drag Queens. This information cannot be determined simply by looking at the people, their only identifying feature is their brightly colored coats. While these are only AI generated people, real people who perform drag or are a part of similar communities are impacted by the implications that they are participating in intimidating or actively chasing ICE agents. According to an article by One Colorado, "Immigrants who are LGBT are particularly vulnerable to detention and deportation because they are more likely to come into contact with law enforcement through police profiling and discriminatory enforcement of minor offenses..."(We're coming out against the Ice Secure Communities Program), this video is likely to be more vulnerable to discrimination and police profiling. This makes not only Drag Queens stakeholders, but anyone who identifies as LGBTQ+ or is simply associated with them.

Message

Communicator

Stakeholder

Context