Full Story Is ICE out of control?
Jan 16, 2026
In this insightful discussion, Maanvi Singh, an immigration reporter for Guardian US, shares her on-the-ground experiences in Minneapolis, highlighting the unsettling impact of ICE's presence on local communities. Caitlin Dickerson, an award-winning journalist from The Atlantic, provides expert analysis on ICE's mission and oversight. They delve into ICE's militarized tactics, its overwhelming presence in neighborhoods, and the profound fear it instills in families. The conversation reveals the alarming dynamics between immigration enforcement and public safety.
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Community Organises Rapid Support Networks
- Volunteers and neighbourhood groups organised block-level patrols and support networks to warn vulnerable people and provide rides or deliveries.
- Maanvi Singh describes free towing offers and community-driven childcare and legal-observer trainings after the raids.
Where ICE Sits In Federal Power
- ICE is a post-9/11 federal agency under the Department of Homeland Security focused on interior immigration enforcement, separate from Border Patrol.
- Caitlin Dickerson explains ICE reports to the Homeland Security secretary and also receives direct pressure from White House figures like the border czar.
Immigration Enforcement Is Civil, Not Criminal
- ICE enforces civil immigration violations, historically distinct from criminal police work, meaning arrests for immigration are civil rather than criminal.
- Caitlin Dickerson notes this distinction helps explain why current aggressive tactics are confusing and unprecedented.