Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents killed two American citizens in Minnesota in January 2026. At least 32 people died in ICE custody in 2025. The Trump administration has deported more than 500,000 people since January 2025. The budget for ICE is more than twice that of the FBI – making it the largest funded federal policing machine in the US.
As the Trump administration continues its hiring spree for ICE – with more than $100 billion set aside for immigration enforcement activities – ICE agents are acquiring a reputation for brutality and gratuitous violence. Already, cities across the US have seen protests and neighbourhood squads organising against ICE patrols.
With questions being raised about violations of American constitutional rights, many fear that ICE’s violent tactics could lead to broader civil strife. Is that a real danger? What are the social and economic implications of this crackdown? And how much political support do these operations targeting undocumented immigrants really enjoy?
Guest: Joyojeet Pal, Professor in the School of Information at University of Michigan
Host: G Sampath
Producer: Shiksha Jural
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