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The Preamble

Inside ICE: Recruitment, Congressional Accountability, and Absolute Immunity

The Preamble

Sharon McMahon

Education, History

4.915.3K Ratings

🗓️ 26 January 2026

⏱️ 50 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This episode was recorded before Border Patrol agents shot and killed Twin Cities nurse Alex Pretti.


What happens when the people enforcing the law no longer seem bound by it? Our contributor Elise Labott reports on ICE’s expansive recruitment campaign and training program. Sharon is then joined by MN Representative Angie Craig to discuss the escalating situation in Minnesota and what Congress may, or may not, do in response. Plus, do ICE agents have absolute immunity, as JD Vance claims? Our guest, former DOJ attorney Liz Oyer says absolutely not. 

If you’d like to submit a question, head to thepreamble.com/podcast – we’d love to hear from you there.

And be sure to read our weekly magazine at ThePreamble.com – it’s free! Join hundreds of thousands of readers who still believe understanding is an act of hope.

Credits:

Host and Executive Producer: Sharon McMahon

Supervising Producer: Melanie Buck Parks

Audio Producer: Craig Thompson


(00:00:00) What’s Drawing Recruits to ICE?

(00:15:52) What is Congress Doing About ICE?

(00:31:18) Do ICE Agents Have Absolute Immunity?

Transcript

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1:00.8

Before we get into today's episode, just a quick note.

1:04.6

This interview was recorded two days before Border Patrol agents shot and killed Twin Cities nurse, Alex Pready.

1:17.0

Welcome to the Preamble podcast. This week, we're joined by Elisa Labett for our lead story.

1:22.7

Elise is a journalist who has covered global affairs and politics for more than two decades and is a regular

1:27.8

contributor to the preamble magazine. This week, she's looking into ICE recruitment. Who is being

1:33.7

drawn to these positions, and why do so many of the ads look like Norman Rockwell paintings?

1:39.4

And ahead, I'll speak with Congresswoman Angie Craig of Minnesota. She says Homeland Security Secretary

1:45.2

Christy Noam should be impeached over what's happening in her state. Plus, my interview with

1:50.7

former Justice Department pardon attorney Liz Oyer. She says the idea of absolute immunity for

1:56.1

ICE officers is just not true despite people like J.D. Vance saying it is. I'm Sharon McMahon, and this is

2:04.5

the preamble podcast. Here's Elise. In September, the Department of Homeland Security began

2:12.5

posting recruitment ads for immigration and customs enforcement, also known as ICE, on social media.

2:19.0

The images evoked warm nostalgia for an idealic America. Norman Rockwell's 1946 working on the

2:26.2

Statue of Liberty paired with slogans like, protect your homeland, defend your culture, and

2:32.2

Calvin Coolidge's remark that, quote,

2:37.6

those who do not want to be partakers of the American spirit,

2:39.5

what to not settle in America.

2:44.0

Each post includes a link, join ice.gov.

...

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