Reveal How ICE Became Trump’s Very Own Paramilitary Force
17 snips
Jan 21, 2026 
Investigative journalist Radley Balko delves into the alarming militarization of ICE under the Trump administration. He discusses how aggressive tactics have strayed from traditional policing norms, surprising even seasoned observers. Balko outlines ICE's transformation into a paramilitary force and the legal gray areas that shield officers from accountability. He also connects this shift to a legacy of militarization rooted in the War on Drugs and argues that immigration has replaced drugs as a justification for civil liberties infringements.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Erosion Of Limits On Domestic Military Use
- Radley Balko argues Trump's deployment of federal forces has erased traditional limits on using the military for domestic policing.
- That shift treats law enforcement as a paramilitary tool to punish political opponents and suppress cities that defy the administration.
Firsthand Shock At Guard Deployments
- Balko recounts seeing National Guard deployments in D.C. and feeling the situation was worse than he'd imagined.
- He says even critics of militarization are horrified by how forces now punish cities politically.
Immigration Agencies Became Paramilitary Networks
- Balko explains ICE, Border Patrol, HSI and other agencies form a hyper-militarized network now used domestically.
- He notes Border Patrol's BORTAC culture and policy shifts concentrated enforcement power under more aggressive actors.
