Nationwide attention was given to an incident at a Goodwill store in Atlanta on July 29, 2025, in which a customer identifying herself as Betty Jones confronted another customer for speaking Spanish and threatened to have her deported by calling Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This incident illuminates the very stubborn existence of xenophobia, the legal protection attached to speaking any language in public, and societal divisions on immigration and identity in American life at large.
The incident and video that went viral
The altercation was recorded by a bystander, the TikToker Marnia Fisher, whose exchange was carried out with Betty Jones approaching her while she was shopping. Jones, shouting, insisted, “In America, we speak English!” Fisher replied over and over again that she was a U.S. citizen, and that she belonged there; Jones was not deterred. Jones began making her threats, filmed it on her phone, and accused the shopper of being illegal for speaking Spanish: “The only thing I’m going to call is ICE.” Fisher later reflected: “In this country, I shouldn’t feel ashamed of speaking my ancestry’s native language.”
Jones was identified by Marina as a retired teacher, which she said renders this behavior even more troubling. “It makes me even sadder for our children, because they’re already afraid to speak their language. They’re already afraid to speak Spanish at school,” she lamented.
Jones insulted Marina about her physique, calling her “fat.” Marina replied sarcastically: “Thanks. They’re called curves.” Other than that, she remained calm throughout the several-minute altercation, which is commendable.
Eventually, Jones walked out of the store.
“It was clearly a racist experience,” Marina Fisher shared the video on her social media and then made another post to thank the support she was receiving.
“What I experienced at Goodwill (the thrift store) was clearly a racist experience. My heart is touched by all the heartfelt messages I’ve received, by the support, and by the people who have spoken out in my defense against this type of racism. No one should have to go through anything like this,” she said.
Legal protections for language uses
The federal Constitution and the state constitutions guarantee free speech, which entails any use of language in public. Spanish—along with any language—is not banned by legislation from being spoken in businesses across the U.S. or on any street. Civil rights attorneys argue that any attempt to harass or discriminate against a person on the basis of their language amounts to discrimination which stands against the First Amendment and the principles of equal protection.
ICE is charged with the responsibility under federal law to enforce immigration laws against noncitizens who do not possess lawful status, but these federal officers cannot detain U.S. citizens or lawful residents. To threaten to call the ICE on a legal citizen for speaking Spanish, in effect, would abuse federal enforcement and incur criminal liability for false reporting. ICE itself had stated that using a language alone is not going to be probable cause for detaining people or initiating any deportation proceedings.
Historical and societal context
Anti-Spanish sentiments have emerged recurrently throughout U.S. history, from the so-called English-only movements of the 20th century down to hate incidents today. In recent years, a number of high-profile assaults targeting Spanish-speaking victims in public have occurred, including an airport verbal attack in Reno in 2017 and the 2020 physical assault of a mother and daughter for speaking Spanish in East Boston. These incidents reinforce the allure of xenophobia over and above any act against Hispanic and Latino communities.
Victims of language-based harassment go through emotional trauma, fear of public places, reluctance to exercise their civil rights, etc. Although Fisher’s footage created solidarity online, the Atlanta case also revealed how readily these ordinary activities like using one ancestral language can become intolerable flashpoints. Community advocates warn that these incidents create a chilling effect, discouraging bilingual speakers from participating freely in public life.
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