Law & Order: SVU Season 17 Episode 21 sees tensions escalate between the Muslim and Hispanic communities, leading Barba to become desperate to win his case against Styla Sharma's murderer.

Ramirez is taken hostage by some Muslims who want vengeance for his part in the rape and murder. He is rescued, but one of his captors is killed, intensifying tensions. Benson and Barba decide to use the threat of deportation to get his wife to admit that he was not home with her all night. She finally does and Ramirez decides to provide the names of his accomplices.

When Ramirez is killed after his testimony to the grand jury, Mala gets desperate and tells Benson she saw the men's faces and can point them out in court. Barba agrees to let her testify, but she claims that she told Benson this weeks ago! Benson is pressured to lie on the stand to back up this story, but ultimately refuses to do so. Meanwhile, one of the suspects' wives refuses to testify against him because she believes the cops don't care about white people anymore, and Barba again has to struggle to make his case.

To find out what happens, watch Law & Order: SVU Season 18 Episode 21 online.