In a scenario reminiscent of a Hollywood movie, Rachel Cohen, a former Skadden associate and outspoken critic of creeping authoritarianism, recently found herself face to face with Greg Bovino, the tactical commander of Homeland Security's aggressive immigration enforcement efforts, at a Minnesota gas station. Cohen, who has been a vocal advocate for the rights of immigrants and a staunch opponent of the current administration's policies, didn’t shy away from using this chance encounter to make a statement.

Cohen, awarded Above the Law’s 2025 Lawyer of the Year for her courage in standing against the Trump administration's threats to the rule of law, has been particularly active in pushing back against what she describes as a surge of ICE violence in Minnesota. This violence has had devastating effects, including the wrongful death of Renee Good and the brutalization of many others, sparking widespread outrage and calls for accountability.

The gas station meeting, which Cohen captured on Instagram, might have appeared trivial to some, as she noted Bovino’s stature and attire. However, the significance lay in the symbolism of the moment — a face-to-face between a legal advocate for the oppressed and a commander in what many see as an oppressive regime.

The encounter comes on the heels of disturbing reports of ICE's harsh tactics, including an incident where a 10th grader, an American citizen, was allegedly kidnapped, beaten, and had his cellphone stolen by ICE agents. Such incidents have intensified the scrutiny of Homeland Security's operations, particularly their impact on American citizens and their disregard for basic rights and dignity.

Cohen used the viral attention her encounter received to further highlight the ongoing issues and to call for more significant public awareness and action. In a powerful follow-up video, she laid out the stakes clearly, reminding her audience of the importance of bravery in confronting authoritarianism. She emphasized that the public needs to remember not only Renee Good but also others like Silverio González, who have suffered from or been lost to violent immigration enforcement actions.

This unexpected meeting at a gas station thus transformed into an impromptu platform for advocacy, demonstrating Cohen’s commitment to speaking truth to power, no matter the setting. It underscores the pervasive tension and the critical need for legal voices like hers in the ongoing discourse around immigration policy and human rights in America.