Do ICE Officers Have 'Immunity'?

Radio Atlantic

The Atlantic

Politics, Society & Culture, News

4.3 • 2.3K Ratings

🗓️ 15 January 2026

⏱️ 31 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Tensions are high in Minneapolis this week. The Trump administration is sending more federal agents. Protesters are calling for justice for the killing of an unarmed citizen. But what could actually happen legally? Especially when the Department of Justice seems more interested in trying to open a criminal investigation into the victim’s wife than the ICE officer who pulled the trigger? We talk to the legal researcher Bryna Godar about the history of prosecutions against federal agents and why they’re not often successful. And we speak with the Atlantic staff writer Nick Miroff, who covers immigration, about what members of ICE are saying internally—and why they now feel more emboldened than ever. Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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1:06.3	Minneapolis remains tense this week.
1:09.6	People are out on the streets clashing with ice agents.
1:13.3	Social media is full of a new kind of video. Federal agents not out arresting on documented
1:18.8	immigrants, but getting into physical confrontations with American citizens, sometimes on
1:25.0	otherwise quiet suburban streets.
1:33.6	One video circulating this week showed a masked ice agent shoving a Minneapolis city councilman into the street.
	...

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