A man was taken into custody over the weekend for allegedly impersonating an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official and harassing Brazilian nationals voting at a Miami polling location, according to investigators.
Danilo Alves Silva was allegedly seen walking between polling locations set up for Brazilian presidential elections at Miami Dade College’s Kendall Campus on Sunday afternoon, dressed in a blue “ICE raid jacket,” a blue ICE hat, sunglasses, blue jeans, and tactical-style boots, with his face covered in a mask, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
According to the police report, the 46-year-old interacted with others who were “in fear” of him. The folks had assembled and were visibly afraid that, as they said, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official was interfering with their election and perhaps deporting people,” according to the arrest report.
Detectives and sheriff’s deputies on campus watched the situation and intervened when a person with a camera challenged Silva about his costume, and the two began shouting, according to the report.
Silva was detained after allegedly telling investigators that he was not a federal agent and could not provide identification when requested, according to the arrest report.
According to the police report, Silva posed as a Brazilian voter and wore an ICE costume he purchased on Amazon to observe reactions from others. He further asserted that there is no legislation that prohibits him from wandering around a voting place disguised as ICE,” according to the police report.
After being arrested and placed in a Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office car, Silva allegedly told a detective, “He will regret making this decision.”
He also allegedly informed law police throughout the trip, “I will get you paid if you let me go,” according to the arrest report.
Silva was charged on Monday with voting intimidation or suppression, conspiracy to conduct bribery, threatening a public official to influence their performance, and improper use of a police badge or insignia.
He did not enter a plea and was placed on bond.
Attorney information was not readily available.
The incident occurred less than a month before the midterm elections, raising concerns about voter intimidation at polling locations.
Alina Garcia, Miami-Dade County’s elections supervisor, told reporters Monday that ICE and other law enforcement personnel will not be present at any of the county’s election polling locations.
She urged voters to vote in this year’s election, whether early, by mail, or on election day. “Don’t let fear, rumors, or misinformation prevent you from participating in your democracy,” Garcia advised.
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