Local Business Owners Confront Masked Federal Agents in Great Barrington

On May 30, 2025, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, a tense situation unfolded when two local business owners, Sarah Stiner and Linda Sharifoff, intervened in what they perceived as an unlawful detention by masked federal agents. The agents, who initially refused to identify themselves, claimed they were searching for a drunk driver. However, Stiner and Sharifoff noted that the detained individual appeared to be a local gardener who did not drive and typically used a bicycle for transportation. "This is...you should be ashamed of yourself. Show your face," Stiner is heard saying in the video. One agent retorted, "We don't need to give you IDs." The incident quickly escalated, prompting the business owners to record the encounter and share it online. Later, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a statement confirming the agents were federal law enforcement officers and that the detained individual was a Colombian national who had violated the terms of his release. The incident has sparked debate regarding the balance between law enforcement authority and citizen rights.