Slate News What Next | Daily News and Analysis - How Immigration Enforcement Became So Violent
Jan 27, 2026
Radley Balko, journalist and author who tracks policing and militarization, breaks down how federal immigration enforcement grew more aggressive. He discusses citizen videos exposing abuses. He traces the warrior-cop roots and Border Patrol’s unique culture. He examines tactical intimidation, masking, and political uses of force. He closes with how communities and local measures push back.
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Chicago Footage of Provoked Violence
- Radley recalled ICE agents in Chicago allegedly provoking collisions and violently beating unarmed people while witnesses filmed.
- Videos showed agents pinning and striking people who posed no clear threat.
Militarized Gear Shapes Police Mindset
- The militarization of police normalized battlefield gear and tactics for domestic law enforcement.
- Surplus military equipment and wartime rhetoric turned streets into perceived battlefields against citizens.
Border Patrol's Longstanding Rogue Culture
- Border Patrol has a longer history of rogue tactics and lethal incidents than ICE.
- The agency also shows persistently higher rates of arrest and misconduct without accountability.
