We live in a world where there are media sources everywhere–social media, a multitude of broadcast channels, podcasts, print, news websites, and a hundred more. When the media is everywhere and each source relays information in different ways it becomes tricky to navigate what is happening in our country. Especially with controversial situations such as what is occurring with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), it can begin to feel like a second job attempting to keep up with the latest news.
No matter what source you currently rely on for your news, ICE makes headlines almost every single day. The Trump administration has increased ICE presence across the country and increased the demand for deportations of those residing in the United States illegally. Mass deportation has been at the forefront of Trump’s second term presidency and has enhanced law enforcement protocols regarding carrying out the deportations and arrests. ICE is being sent to states across the country, with Minnesota being the main target for mass deportations at the moment, as of January 2026.
ICE agents are supposed to ‘focus’ on those who are listed as undocumented and are still residing in the United States. On paper, agents are supposed to go to these individual’s homes with a proper warrant signed by a judge, and arrest and detain them while they await due process. However, many of these deportations are increasingly becoming more violent and dangerous, and not following the norm of ICE behaviors or actions.
ICE is beginning to show up at workplaces, schools, and public events in order to carry out mass deportations. These have been named as ‘ICE raids,’ and an element of violence has been connected to multiple situations. Examples of aggression and violence tactics that have been documented are: physical force including tackling individuals and pinning them to the ground, disguising as plainclothed individuals such as a regular police officer or possible employer, usage of surveillance technology to track individuals via social media or phone records, detaining individuals who were not the initial ‘target,’ and usage of weapons such as tear gas, pepper spray, smoke bombs, and some cases have included the firing of guns.
There have been six identified individuals that have died in ICE-related incidents in 2026; Renee Nicole Good, Alex Pretti, Keith Porter Jr., Silverio Villegas González, Isaias Sanchez Barboza, and Lunas Campos. There are two other individuals who have died in ICE-related incidents who have not been identified in the first few weeks of 2026, and there were 32 documented deaths in 2025 in ICE-related incidents. Furthermore, accounts of dangerous conditions within detainment centers have also been reported. There are reports that have found hundreds of alleged reports of human rights violations within ICE detention centers, and more reports of individuals being denied due process or communication with a lawyer.
Under Trump’s two terms to date, approximately over one million individuals have been deported and left the country. His administration maintains their initial promise to carry out a mass number of deportations and continues to hold support for ICE and their actions, despite the accounts of violence that have been reported. There are no plans to bring criminal charges to any ICE agent at the time.
Finding news becomes difficult in a time where news is everywhere, and in a time where differing opinions come from each one of them. Unbiased sources, such as academic papers or research institutes, include information that comes straight from documented instances. Ensuring that we are reading news and gaining knowledge with no bias, and no extreme opinions, allows us to consume media properly and have a general idea of what is happening regarding deportations and ICE as a whole.
