We Think It Would Be Wrong To Block Something Some Find Offensive.
BY: ANDREW COLTON | Editor and Publisher | BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — We have received many complaints about the ads for Immigration and Customs Enforcement showing up on BocaNewsNow.com, so we wanted to take a moment to address those ads, and advertising in general on the site.
BocaNewsNow.com is independent local media. We are not controlled by a corporate overlord like Sinclair Broadcasting, Nexstar, Tegna, iHeart Media, Disney, NewsCorp, Tribune, Gannett, or any of the other massive companies that have a local presence in South Florida and pretend to care about local interests. We are local. And unlike most of those other mega-companies, we have actually figured out how to stay relevant and profitable. We log nearly 2 million page views each month. Tens of thousands of people have “double-opted-in” to our nightly and breaking news emails. And we’ve kept it all free. We thank you for being a part of those amazing numbers and caring about independent local journalism.
Part of our independent success comes from our inclusion of randomized national advertising. National advertising means that we are not beholden to local companies that believe they can buy space and then dictate coverage. While we do accept local advertising, our local sponsors are heavily vetted and understand they don’t control what we report. National ads on our site are placed “programmatically,” which means your individual web use may lead to ads that an algorithm believes are relevant to you. And that brings us to ICE.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement is constantly in the news. Regardless of your political leanings, the odds are good that you’ve read an article lately that involves ICE. In a world run by algorithms, you reading or viewing something about immigration somewhere on the web can send a signal that you may be interested in an ICE ad, the same way that researching a new car may generate a BMW ad.
While the technology exists for us to at try to ban certain ads, we think that would be wrong. In a time where free speech has never been more important, blocking content because some people find it offensive is something we’ll leave to failing major media companies, an FCC leader who speaks out of both sides of his mouth, and wannabe dictators.
BocaNewsNow.com is all about facts with a touch of energetic snark. If ICE wants to use our site to promote jobs with a $50,000 signing bonus, we’re going to let those ads run. And no, we don’t get a commission.
To our readers, we thank you for your continued support of independent local media. And if you see an ad or article that bugs you, just move on to the next one. At least that’s what normal, civilized people do.
15 responses to “About Those ICE Ads On BocaNewsNow”
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Thanks for doing what’s right, and your explanation is well written!
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So what you are saying is that although you are an extremely liberal and biased publication, you will not try to suppress free speech by declining ICE ads (even if ithey go against your morals and beliefs, which anyone can tell by the way you expressed your hatred for the Chairman of the FCC as well as calling our President a dictator), as long as the advertisers pay you! Sounds like the definition of a prostitute.
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No it actually sounds like an extremely liberal and unbiased publication which prints the news and all the news that believes in free speech unlike some who only print what won’t hurt the feeling of a certain group of people.
A Prostitute would be something like CBS and ABC who cancelled shows because it hurt someone’s fragile feelings and they didn’t want him mad at them because it might hurt their ability to complete a $billion dollar merger.-
Here here!! Stick to your principles and we’ll be better for it.
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Petulant answer and a ridiculous run-on sentence.
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The president knows all about prostitution.
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Love boca news & your honesty..thank you.
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You are a business and freedom of speech extends to your business. I want you to stay on business so take the ads. They are not illegal TAKE THE ADS.
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Thank you for running these ICE ads, and thank you for not trying to disguise your liberal selves. ICE is doing a fantastic job, but liberal wokeness is revolting. Trump or Vance 2028!!!
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Why in the world would a person find ICE ads offensive? If we are all about being overly sensitive and easily offended, then I am offended that people find ICE ads offensive! Travel in a foreign country and violate their immigration laws. Being offended by ICE ads is stupid. Legal immigration all the way.
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Keep up the good work. I enjoy reading your articles. It’s news you don’t receive on the local news stations or the local news papers. Stick to your format, it’s the best news locally.
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While I believe that the current internet & cellular “targeting” technology is close to being as illegal as “television subliminal” advertising, it is (unfortunately) still legal. That is my personal abhorrence to the advertising schemes widely in use by media advertisers. It is a major issue that the US Congress SHOULD be focusing on.
However, as a Marine and Army veteran, I will stand by the rights of free speech. I may disagree with someone’s speech….I would also fight for the right of an individual to speak their opinion.
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Great site. Take the ads. Even if this site were to go through measures to ban the ICE ads, they would still follow affected readers elsewhere…to other sites. It’s like those hitchhiker / beggarweed pods. It’s what programmatic does. You would have to delete cookies and a bunch of other things each time you go online.
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It’s your site, and it is a valuable source for local news that is not published anywhere else. And—FREE SPEECH !!! I am very liberal. I am a white, Christian, non-immigrant educated woman–the very people this administration seems to favor (except for the educated part). My principles make me horrified that Colbert and Kimmel have been canceled. The same principles make me horrified that people would want you to cancel ads.
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We want more ICE ads!
Thanks for doing what’s right, and your explanation is well written!
So what you are saying is that although you are an extremely liberal and biased publication, you will not try to suppress free speech by declining ICE ads (even if ithey go against your morals and beliefs, which anyone can tell by the way you expressed your hatred for the Chairman of the FCC as well as calling our President a dictator), as long as the advertisers pay you! Sounds like the definition of a prostitute.
No it actually sounds like an extremely liberal and unbiased publication which prints the news and all the news that believes in free speech unlike some who only print what won’t hurt the feeling of a certain group of people.
A Prostitute would be something like CBS and ABC who cancelled shows because it hurt someone’s fragile feelings and they didn’t want him mad at them because it might hurt their ability to complete a $billion dollar merger.
Here here!! Stick to your principles and we’ll be better for it.
Petulant answer and a ridiculous run-on sentence.
The president knows all about prostitution.
Love boca news & your honesty..thank you.
You are a business and freedom of speech extends to your business. I want you to stay on business so take the ads. They are not illegal TAKE THE ADS.
Thank you for running these ICE ads, and thank you for not trying to disguise your liberal selves. ICE is doing a fantastic job, but liberal wokeness is revolting. Trump or Vance 2028!!!
Why in the world would a person find ICE ads offensive? If we are all about being overly sensitive and easily offended, then I am offended that people find ICE ads offensive! Travel in a foreign country and violate their immigration laws. Being offended by ICE ads is stupid. Legal immigration all the way.
Keep up the good work. I enjoy reading your articles. It’s news you don’t receive on the local news stations or the local news papers. Stick to your format, it’s the best news locally.
While I believe that the current internet & cellular “targeting” technology is close to being as illegal as “television subliminal” advertising, it is (unfortunately) still legal. That is my personal abhorrence to the advertising schemes widely in use by media advertisers. It is a major issue that the US Congress SHOULD be focusing on.
However, as a Marine and Army veteran, I will stand by the rights of free speech. I may disagree with someone’s speech….I would also fight for the right of an individual to speak their opinion.
Great site. Take the ads. Even if this site were to go through measures to ban the ICE ads, they would still follow affected readers elsewhere…to other sites. It’s like those hitchhiker / beggarweed pods. It’s what programmatic does. You would have to delete cookies and a bunch of other things each time you go online.
It’s your site, and it is a valuable source for local news that is not published anywhere else. And—FREE SPEECH !!! I am very liberal. I am a white, Christian, non-immigrant educated woman–the very people this administration seems to favor (except for the educated part). My principles make me horrified that Colbert and Kimmel have been canceled. The same principles make me horrified that people would want you to cancel ads.
We want more ICE ads!
Comments are closed.