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CNN 5 Things

One Thing: 'This Job Sucks’: Prosecuting Trump’s Immigration Crackdown

CNN 5 Things

CNN

Daily News, News

3.71.3K Ratings

🗓️ 15 February 2026

⏱️ 20 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

"I am trying every breath that I have so that I can get you what you need." Those words from ICE attorney Julie Le to a federal judge earlier this month underscores the toll the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown in Minneapolis is taking on the Justice Department. But what happens now that the surge is winding down? And will any new prosecutors want to sign up for this work? For more: Trump’s immigration approach is gumming up the courts, frustrating his Justice Department and judges  ---  Guest: Doug Kelley, former Assistant US Attorney  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Katelyn Polantz Photo: Steve Karnowski/AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

This is one thing. I'm David Rind, and we know President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement crackdown has been felt on the streets and in politics, but it's also crushing the courts.

0:11.2

We have had the equivalent of eight years worth of those habeas corpus cases come in.

0:17.1

Eight years.

0:18.1

Eight years worth in two months.

0:20.6

Stick around.

0:24.7

I have proposed, and President Trump has concurred that this surge operation conclude.

0:30.5

When White House Borders R. Tom Homan on Thursday came out and announced that Operation Metro Surge would be winding down,

0:41.3

Minnesota leaders like Governor Tim Walls breathed a cautious sigh of relief. The fact of the matter is they left us with deep damage.

0:45.3

Generational trauma. They left us with economic ruin in some cases.

0:50.3

They left us with many unanswered questions. Where are our children?

0:56.0

A lot of residents have those questions too.

0:58.0

It's unclear what this drawdown will actually look like, how many agents will remain on the streets.

1:03.0

And as we saw with the killings of Alex Preti and Renee Good, all it takes is one interaction gone wrong to create a crisis.

1:10.0

It's also worth noting that even as Hohman admitted there were some issues that needed fixing,

1:14.9

he said federal immigration enforcement would continue at scale.

1:18.7

President Trump made a promise of mass deportation and that's what this country's going to get.

1:24.7

But the impacts of this push have not only been felt by immigrants and local businesses,

1:28.3

it's also being felt by the people who are trying to prosecute these cases in court.

1:33.3

We understand that at least six prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Minnesota have quit,

1:39.3

a source telling us it's because the Trump administration pressured them to focus the investigation

1:44.5

on the actions of Renee Goods' widow.

1:47.3

And at the same time, they're blocking the state from doing an investigation because the FBI

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