When stories like “babies in handcuffs” go viral, it’s easy to feel outraged. Before you react, let us take a thoughtful look at viral claims.

Keep in mind that emotion spreads faster than facts—and truth deserves a pause.

🧠 What Actually Happened in Chicago

• On September 30, 2025, ICE agents conducted a military-style raid on an apartment building in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood.
• 37 people were arrested, some allegedly involved in drug trafficking, weapons crimes, and immigration violations.
• Children were present, and some were taken into custody — but DHS confirmed they were not zip-tied or handcuffed.
• Viral images claiming babies were handcuffed were debunked. One video came from a 2024 video of a Texas officer playfully cuffing his own child.

So why did so many people repeat the claim that ‘babies were in handcuffs’?

• Because emotional storytelling sells, but clarity heals.
• TikTok and other platforms often amplify dramatic stories that users didn’t witness.
• Over time, these distortions can create false memories—sometimes resembling the Mandela Effect, where collective memory diverges from reality.

 

I care about children.

• I also care about the truth.

This blog post isn’t about blame.

• It’s about thinking critically, caring deeply, and protecting both children and the truth.

“Before we react to viral stories, let’s pause and think.

And I searched for credible sources online.

Here’s what I found when I looked beyond the headlines…”

 

I care about children.

I also care about the truth.

When I hear stories of babies in handcuffs, I pause — not to dismiss the pain, but to ask: What really happened?

We need to be asking questions before we react.

What age of ‘babies”? Infants in arms? Or four- and 5-year-olds who could walk? Or were these children of grade-school age? There is a lot of difference here. So, what is the accurate word that should be used?

 

Emotion sells. But clarity heals.

If parents are putting their children in danger, we must ask why protecting their children is not their priority.

If law enforcement is traumatizing families, we must ask how to do better.

And if we’re repeating stories without checking the facts, we must ask: what story are we really telling? — and who it helps?

 

I’m not here to blame.

• I’m here to think.
• To care.
• To protect.

Because every child deserves safety, and every truth deserves a guiding light.

 

🧠 Why the Story Got Twisted

It is a fact that emotion sells products and news stories.

• Images of children in distress trigger our protective instincts. —
• And fear spreads faster than facts.

Secondhand retelling often distorts the original event.

• Who remembers playing the ‘game of telephone’?
• Only this is not a game, and distorted rumors can have serious consequences.
• Children have often been used to sell propaganda in history
  • Why were children present during a high-risk raid? If parents were involved in criminal activity, were safeguards in place for the kids?

 

 

Yes, these questions should be asked with critical thinking, compassion, and emotional clarity. The ICE raid in Chicago did involve children, but reports confirm they were not handcuffed or zip-tied, despite viral claims. Emotion sells, but truth restores.

Here’s a rational, kind, and thoughtful breakdown of what happened — and how to think through the layers:

 

🧠 Rational Questions Worth Asking

• Why were children present in a high-risk raid? If parents were involved in criminal activity, were safeguards in place for the kids?

• Are all adults in these homes truly guardians? We know that in some cases, children have been used as shields or bargaining chips — and that’s a tragedy. I don’t know if this was the situation in Chicago, but keep this in mind before you start wailing about the men arrested being fathers.
• What systems are in place to protect children during enforcement actions? Are trauma-informed protocols being followed?
• How do we balance enforcement with dignity? Zip ties may be used for safety — but how they’re used, and on whom, matters deeply.

 

📱 TikTok and Emotional Storytelling

• TikTok often spreads emotionally charged stories that users didn’t witness — like babies in handcuffs or dramatic ICE raids.
• These stories can create emotional false memories, especially when repeated or paired with strong visuals.
• Over time, if enough people misremember the same event, it can develop into a Mandela-like effect — but it starts as misinformation, not memory distortion.

 

I am Malika Bourne, encouraging all of us to make good choices together.

 

Comments are now open.

For those who would like to comment anonymously, you can do so by emailing Malika@MalikaBourne.com

 

 

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