Former ICE director on why immigration raids are making U.S. less safe

Here & Now Anytime

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4.1 • 953 Ratings

🗓️ 20 October 2025

⏱️ 21 minutes

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Summary

Former Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting director John Sandweg weighs in on the agency’s policing tactics and surveillance technology being used to conduct mass deportations and monitor those who are protesting the Trump administration's immigration policies.

And, as the government shutdown enters its third week, confusion abounds around national parks like Joshua Tree. Kenji Haroutunian, executive director of Friends of Joshua Tree, explains more about the safety and environmental concerns the park is facing.

Then, President Trump campaigned on a promise to make in vitro fertilization free to all Americans who want to build their families. But that hasn’t happened. Danielle Melfi, CEO of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, weighs in on a recent White House announcement to lower the cost of IVF.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Support for here and now anytime comes from MathWorks, creator of MATLAB and Simulink software for
0:06.2	technical computing and model-based design. MathWorks accelerating the pace of discovery in engineering
0:12.7	and science. Learn more at MathWorks.com.
0:17.5	WBWR Podcasts, Boston.
0:23.6	There are things that the administration could do in terms of changing the tactics that are being utilized to reduce the vulnerability to the agents and de-escalate the situation.
0:32.8	And, you know, I think it's pretty clear the administration doesn't seem interested in de-escalating things right now.
0:37.2	A former ICE director says the Trump administration's immigration agenda is making the country less safe.
0:44.8	It's Monday, October 20th, and this is here and now anytime from NPR and WBUR.
0:49.9	I'm Chris Bentley.
1:05.6	Today on the show, we'll hear how the government shutdown is complicating wildfire relief efforts around Joshua Tree National Park and what federal cuts mean for the communities around the park.
1:10.2	Also, Trump promised to make in vitro fertilization treatments free for Americans.
1:16.4	He has not done that.
1:18.2	But he did say last week that the government would help lower the cost of some drugs used in IVF.
1:24.3	People suffering from infertility say the government should do more and make insurance companies cover treatment.
1:32.6	Just like any other health condition should be covered by health insurance, so should the disease of infertility and the treatment for that disease is IVF and fertility care.
1:43.5	That story coming up at about 10 minutes.
1:44.7	But first, representatives from Border Patrol and ICE were in federal court today in Chicago
1:51.6	defending their use of force in immigration raids and against bystanders who've documented or protested their aggressive tactics.
2:00.7	They were also defending why, despite a
2:03.3	federal judge's order, they have not enforced the use of body cameras. Agents from ICE and CBP have
2:11.4	beaten, tased, and even shot people in the course of their raids over the past few months.
2:17.3	They've forced people into
	...

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