The New Founding Podcast ICE: day-in-the life, recruitment, & the future of deportations – Matthew Elliston | #69
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Sep 30, 2025 Matthew Elliston, Deputy Assistant Director at ICE, shares his 18 years of experience in immigration enforcement. He discusses a typical day for an ICE officer, the complexities of street arrests, and how organized crime differs from other offenders. Elliston recounts a dramatic shootout and the importance of teamwork in the field. He reveals insights into ongoing modernization efforts, including the use of AI, and explains ICE's recruitment strategies and the compelling reasons for young people to join, emphasizing the impactful nature of the work.
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Duty Shapes A Career
- Elliston's father taught him if you can help someone, you must help them, which shaped his vocation.
- He carries that duty into leadership and protecting 6,000 ERO officers.
Policy Swings Affect Public Safety
- Federal policy swings changed ICE effectiveness: cooperation under earlier administrations, sanctuary policies under Obama, stricter enforcement under Trump.
- Rebuilding partnerships (e.g., Montgomery County) produced measurable crime reductions.
Law Versus Policy Choice
- The law already allowed third-country removals and tougher uses of existing statutes; enforcement was a political choice.
- Elliston now uses those tools to remove violent offenders even when judges grant protections from return to origin.