Are ICE immigration agents acting outside the law?

25 snips

Jan 23, 2026

John Sandweg, former Acting Director of ICE and homeland security lawyer, outlines recruitment, training and policy shifts at the agency. He discusses shorter training, rapid hiring of ex-police and entry-level recruits. He highlights redeployment from investigations to street raids and concerns about use-of-force, oversight and culture changes driving current enforcement tactics.

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INSIGHT

ICE Expansion Changed The Enforcement Scale

ICE expanded dramatically under Trump with far more funding and agents than before.
That funding enabled bigger enforcement operations and a much wider net of arrests.

INSIGHT

Targets Drive Sweeps Beyond Serious Criminals

The administration set a daily arrest target that forces broad sweeps beyond violent criminals.
Reaching those numbers necessarily pulls in many people whose only violation is immigration status.

ANECDOTE

Minneapolis Incidents Spark National Outcry

Minneapolis saw visceral incidents that made enforcement nationally visible, notably the killing of Renee Goode.
Protesters and officials responded strongly after images of arrests and family separations spread.

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Donald Trump came into power with a promise to carry out the “largest mass deportation programme in history”. One year on, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids in US cities are one of biggest political issues dividing America right now, with questions over how ICE agents are behaving and who they are targeting. In this episode, Anthony, Marianna and Justin look at whether ICE agents are going beyond their remit, and is public opinion starting to turn against the president? We focus on Minneapolis after the killing of 37 year old Renee Nicole Good two weeks ago, who was shot dead by an ICE officer. Anti-ICE protests have been ongoing within the city, and this week, the Vice President JD Vance who was visiting Minneapolis called for Democrats to co-operate with the Trump agenda. Justin talks to John Sandweg, former Acting Director of ICE under President Obama who gives us his insight into how ICE agents are being vetted and recruited, plus the wider impact of diverting billions of dollars into Trump’s enforcement operations.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent • Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent

GUEST: John Sandweg, former Acting Director of ICE under President Obama

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This episode was made by Purvee Pattni and Laura Cain. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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