KQED's Forum Concerns Over ICE Training and Tactics Reach Boiling Point
Jan 15, 2026
Ro Khanna, a progressive U.S. Representative, advocates for accountability in ICE following the fatal shooting of Renee Macklin Good. Jill Cowan, a New York Times reporter, addresses the aggressive tactics of ICE in California, linking these to rapid agent recruitment. Scott Savage, a former police trainer, highlights alarming gaps in training for urban encounters. The discussion delves into calls for oversight, the need for de-escalation practices, and the legal consequences of use-of-force incidents, igniting a powerful dialogue on immigration enforcement reforms.
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Account Disputes Around Vehicle Shootings
- Jill Cowan recounts the non-fatal shooting of Carlitos Ricardo Parias where agents said he tried to ram officers.
- Advocates question federal accounts and allege agents boxed people in with vehicles.
Policy Gaps On Shooting Into Vehicles
- DHS policy prohibits firing at moving vehicle operators unless deadly force is justified, but that standard is vague in practice.
- Former DHS officials warn rapid expansion is sending undertrained agents into urban settings they are not prepared for.
Train With Realistic Scenarios Repeatedly
- Scott Savage recommends body cameras and high-fidelity, repeated scenario training to prevent panic in split-second decisions.
- He warns PowerPoint-style training and one-off academies won't prepare agents for intense street encounters.
