The British weekly Economist and U.S. outlets including The Atlantic and MSNBC have raised concerns that ICE’s increasingly aggressive tactics—including recent deadly incidents—signal a shift toward authoritarian-style governance.
At least 32 people reportedly died in ICE custody last year. In January, two U.S. citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, were killed during ICE operations in Minnesota.
“The line between tyranny and democracy is whether a government turns force against its own citizens,” The Economist wrote, warning of a “worst-case scenario” where ICE functions as Trump’s private paramilitary force.
The situation has intensified with public comments from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who pledged full support for ICE agents, calling them “saviors of the country.” The Atlantic questioned whether the Pentagon might deploy troops to aid immigration enforcement. “Hegseth gave us an answer,” the magazine noted. “He wouldn’t hesitate.”
ICE’s expanding role, backed by a USD 170 billion budget and plans to hire 10,000 more agents by 2029, has drawn comparisons to authoritarian state security forces. Le Monde reported that ICE’s detention center funding has risen 265%, now exceeding total spending on the U.S. prison system. ICE is projected to surpass the FBI in personnel numbers.
According to The Economist, Trump adviser Stephen Miller has laid the groundwork for invoking the Insurrection Act to justify using military or federal forces against domestic dissent, with ICE positioned at the center. Critics accuse ICE of using intentionally brutal tactics to provoke unrest and justify further crackdowns.
Former Vice President J.D. Vance has reportedly promised ICE agents “absolute immunity” from prosecution, and ICE recruitment efforts increasingly target Trump supporters. MSNBC warned that far-right extremists, including members of the Proud Boys, may be funneled into ICE ranks.
“The explosive growth of immigration enforcement, seemingly answerable only to Trump,” The Economist concluded, “raises fears of creeping despotism.”
While recent public backlash has slowed the momentum following the deaths in Minneapolis, observers caution that democracy cannot be defended “by polling numbers alone.”
(jh)
Source: PAP