Former Vancouver City Council member Pat Jollota has issued an apology after wearing a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer costume at the Holidays on Franklin Halloween party in Washington state earlier this month.
Jollota, who served on the council from 1990 to 2010, said that her outfit was meant as a political statement critiquing the agency, portraying it “in the context of horror” to highlight the fear many associate with ICE’s actions.
The controversy erupted when screenshots of Jollota in the costume circulated on Facebook, drawing sharp criticism.
One user commented, “They were serious about raising the age limit, huh?” prompting Jollota to reply, “Rude.”
Vancouver real estate agent Rae Master complained about the costume on Facebook and urged people to call the mayor and other officials to encourage them to denounce Jollota’s costume.
Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle, who attended the event, quickly distanced herself and apologized, labeling the costume “offensive, hurtful, and upsetting.”
McEnerny-Ogle emphasized, “Those are not our core values for the City of Vancouver.”
City Council member Diana Perez told The Seattle Times that the images are “painful to see” and stressed that “Accountability means more than an apology, it means learning and doing better so our community remains a place where everyone feels respected and valued.”
Jollota responded to the criticism by telling the Seattle Times that she “recognized the symbolism could have a real and harmful impact.”
The Seattle Times reports:
Jollota later said the costume was meant as a “political statement” and “critique” of ICE, responding to President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies. She has said she now recognized the symbolism could have a real and harmful impact. Critics, including local immigration advocacy groups have called the choice insensitive — especially amid rising ICE activity in Washington and nationwide, where not only undocumented immigrants but also U.S. citizens have been detained by agents who are often wearing face masks.
The Halloween gathering took place at the home of Jim Mains, a former youth pastor and a political consultant who has run dozens of local and state campaigns. Photos from the party were shared publicly on Facebook by former longtime Vancouver City Councilmember Larry J. Smith, with the caption: “I saw an ICE agent at Jim Main’s house this evening. She showed up at the party. Most of the kids went into hiding.”
Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle later reacted to the post with a heart emoji. As a result, advocates and concerned citizens have criticized the mayor and she apologized during last week’s City Council meeting, saying she regretted both attending the event and reacting to the post online.
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