UnHerd with Freddie Sayers The ICE debate: Sohrab Ahmari vs Jenin Younes
Jan 15, 2026
Jenin Younes, a civil liberties attorney known for her First Amendment advocacy, debates with Sohrab Ahmari, a political commentator, on the controversial killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent. They explore sharply contrasting views: was it a tragic civil liberties violation or justified law enforcement? Younes criticizes ICE tactics and argues for restraint, while Ahmari defends the officer's actions, linking them to obstruction laws. David Montgomery adds insights from polling, revealing a polarized public reaction to the incident.
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Episode notes
Rashomon Moment Shapes Public Debate
- The Renee Good killing produced a Rashomon effect where people watching the same footage reach opposite conclusions.
- Freddie Sayers frames the episode to explore both competing narratives and their broader implications.
ICE Has Narrow Federal Authority
- Jenin Younes explains ICE officers are federal agents with limited powers mainly tied to immigration enforcement.
- She stresses they lack broad authority over U.S. citizens and cannot conduct general traffic stops or state arrests.
Legal Bar For Deadly Force Is High
- Younes argues the officer likely lacked justification to use deadly force beyond possibly the first shot.
- She highlights legal standards require imminent threat and reasonableness, and later shots appear retaliatory.
