IHIP News Ex-ICE Insider Exposes Cruel Practices, It's Even Worse Than You Imagined
Jan 24, 2026
Elliot Williams, journalist and former senior DOJ/ICE official and author of Five Bullets, discusses the collapse of legal guardrails and politicization inside DOJ and immigration agencies. He breaks down court dynamics, media amplification of fear, and how enforcement budgets and rhetoric shape policy. Conversations touch on oversight failures, MAGA’s cult-like politics, and possible paths for agency reform.
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ICE Misuse Driven By Perverse Incentives
- Elliot Williams says ICE has lost the thread and broad stop authority has been misused under current incentives.
- He warns that aggressive enforcement incentives are driving cruel practices rather than effective policy.
Civil Servants Aren't A Partisan Monolith
- Elliot notes career civil servants cross administrations and aren't a partisan 'deep state.'
- He warns current changes are eroding core DOJ values and damaging case work when unfit appointees lead.
Political Appointees Can Undermine Cases
- Elliot explains unconfirmed U.S. attorneys placed for loyalty harm prosecutions and court credibility.
- He says courts and cases suffer because judges and staff see those appointees as improperly installed.
