Womanosphere Leaders Urge Support for ICE as Critics Condemn Tactics After Child's Detention

Riley Gaines and other prominent figures in the so‑called "womanosphere" have urged followers to back U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and resist emotionally driven reactions to recent enforcement actions — even after widely shared images showed a five‑year‑old taken from his Minneapolis driveway.

The Incident That Sparked Outrage

Last week, images of five‑year‑old Liam Ramos — bundled in snowpants and a blue hat with bunny ears while held by a federal agent — circulated widely, prompting national revulsion. The Department of Homeland Security stated the child had been abandoned by his father; eyewitnesses and Liam's school district disputed that account, saying the father had been detained and that ICE attempted to use the child "as bait" to draw other family members from the home.

Womanosphere Defenses: Gratitude, Caution, and a Critique of Empathy

On her podcast, conservative activist and former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines thanked ICE agents and urged listeners not to be swayed by compassion for alleged victims. She said:

"I will say thank you to our ICE agents. Thank you for not abandoning that five‑year‑old boy like his father did. I'm glad and I'm grateful."

Allie Beth Stuckey, a conservative podcaster and author, framed public empathy as a potential liability in her commentary and in her 2024 book Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion. Stuckey has argued that emotionally charged images and messaging can be weaponized by political opponents to sway Christian women away from measured judgment.

Dissent and Unease Within Conservative Circles

Despite defenses from womanosphere leaders, some conservatives and self‑identified Christians publicly questioned ICE's tactics. Commenters on social media asked where biblical or moral lines should be drawn when the law appears inhumane. One conservative wrote: "I voted for Trump, I supported ICE, but I can't support what they're doing now — we need justice and investigations."

Voices From Inside and Outside the Movement

Former evangelical April Ajoy, author of Star‑Spangled Jesus, warned that women in this ecosystem risk ostracism if they dissent. Academic researcher Mariah Wellman (Michigan State University) said influencers such as Stuckey cultivate authority and intimacy, making it difficult for followers to seek alternative perspectives.

Examples of Disengagement and Mockery

Not all responses from womanosphere figures centered on moral defense. Alex Clark, a Turning Point USA podcaster, posted a list of leisure activities — pilates, church, a facial, and a "Taylor Swift symphony by candlelight" — while ICE operations unfolded, signaling a business‑as‑usual posture to followers. Haley Williams, who hosts the Kindled podcast, posted satirical "tips" such as "drinking coffee and cuddling my baby," which critics read as mocking those who object to enforcement practices or as reinforcing traditional domestic roles.

Public Reaction And Early Signs Of Shift

Polling suggests modest but noteworthy movement. An Economist poll found that support among Republicans for abolishing ICE rose from 15% at the start of the year to 19% on the day Alex Pretti — another high‑profile case tied to enforcement actions — was killed. Observers say these shifts indicate cracks in previously steady support among some right‑leaning constituencies.

Conclusion

The debate exposes tensions within a segment of conservative, largely white Christian influencers who promote gender‑essentialist views and present themselves as moral guides to women. While leaders urge skepticism of emotional narratives and encourage backing law enforcement, the visceral images and eyewitness accounts coming from Minneapolis and elsewhere have prompted unease, moral questions, and a measurable uptick in dissent among some supporters.