When might ICE be least likely to intervene directly during a protest?

The reasoning behind why ICE would be least likely to intervene directly during a protest is based on the role of immigration enforcement and the prioritization of resources. ICE typically prioritizes the enforcement of immigration laws over intervening in civil unrest or protests, unless there is a direct threat to public safety that warrants intervention.

When public safety is at risk, local law enforcement or other agencies that handle crowd control and safety will often take the lead, and that could potentially involve ICE working in coordination with those agencies. In many cases, ICE's engagement in public protests is limited and focused more on immigration enforcement matters rather than crowd control or civil actions, unless there are specific circumstances that affect national security or public safety.

The other scenarios presented—such as natural disasters, elections, and when a warrant has been received—provide contexts where ICE may have responsibilities or be more involved due to specific legal or operational requirements. During a natural disaster, for example, the focus is typically on rescue and recovery efforts, during an election, they're often monitoring for compliance with voter laws, and a warrant would imply a specific law enforcement action has been authorized.