The David Frum Show How ICE Became Trump’s Secret Army
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Aug 20, 2025 
Caitlin Dickerson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter for The Atlantic, dives deep into the troubling transformation of U.S. immigration policy under Trump. She uncovers how the massive budget surge for ICE, increasing from $8 billion to $28 billion, has fueled mass detentions and empowered private-prison companies. Dickerson critiques how fear-based governance has reshaped American society, raising concerns about the integrity of law enforcement and the ethics of current immigration practices. Her insights shine a light on urgent issues within immigration enforcement.
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Crackdown Risks Eroding Legitimacy
- David Frum warns that Trump's crackdown turns society toward fear, eroding legitimacy of law and enforcement.
- He calls the methods self‑devouring because they damage institutions needed for sustainable restriction.
Detention Creates Local Vested Interests
- Detention facilities create local economic dependencies and political resistance to closure.
- Rural communities often accept prisons for jobs, locking in vested interests that sustain detention growth.
Detention Won't Solve Legal Bottlenecks
- Massive detention doesn't guarantee rapid deportations because legal and diplomatic hurdles persist.
- The administration is firing immigration judges even as it expands detention, limiting removal capacity.
