US EditionNYT: Under Trump, a Shift Toward ‘Absolute Immunity’ for ICE
Stephen Miller asserted ICE agents have federal immunity while performing duties, a claim disputed by legal experts amid increased scrutiny after the Minneapolis shooting of Renee Good.
- On January 13, 2026, Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff for policy, told Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers they have `federal immunity`, and the Department of Homeland Security reposted the Fox clip on X/Twitter.
- The clip was originally recorded Oct. 24 on The Will Cain Show, then recirculated this week amid Minneapolis, Minnesota scrutiny after Renee Nicole Good's death.
- Legal experts pushed back, noting no blanket federal immunity exists and states and local prosecutors can hold federal officers accountable despite Vice President J.D. Vance's earlier absolute immunity claim.
- Critics immediately warned the remarks could embolden agents, noting Minnesota saw two tear-gas incidents near Renee Nicole Good's memorial and daily protests at the Whipple Building.
- The Supremacy Clause complicates state prosecutions while legal scholars warn Miller and Department of Homeland Security are leaving a paper trail fueling inevitable civil-rights lawsuits.
40 Articles
40 Articles
Explainer-Why it is difficult to sue ICE agents
By Jan Wolfe Jan 15 (Reuters) – Lawyers representing the family of Renee Good, the woman killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis last week, announced on Wednesday they were exploring bringing a civil claim over her death. The lead counsel hired by Good’s relatives, Antonio Romanucci, said suing the federal government would be a complex undertaking involving “byzantine, time-consuming processes.” DOES THE LAW AL…
Fed Agent Shoots Second Person, Days After Miller Claims Agents Have “Immunity”
A federal officer has shot a second person in Minneapolis, just days after Trump immigration hawk Stephen Miller told ICE agents that they have “federal immunity” to act as they like — and that anyone obstructing them will face prosecution from the federal government. In a Fox News segment shared by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on X, Miller falsely said that it was a “felony” to… Source
A Shift Toward ‘Absolute Immunity’ for ICE
New York Times: “The fatal shooting of Renee Good last week by an ICE agent in Minneapolis — and the quick reaction by Trump administration officials to declare the agent a hero and Ms. Good a villain — has put a new focus on whether federal agents enforcing President Trump’s deportation drive have been properly prepared for confrontations on city streets.” “The response of Mr. Trump and his top lieutenants to the killing has also underscored ho…
DHS Says ICE Officers Have “Federal Immunity.” The Law Is More Complicated.
While immigration enforcement is undeniably a federal responsibility, the Constitution does not grant federal officers blanket immunity from the law, nor does it erase the authority of state and local law enforcement, particularly that of elected sheriffs. ... The post DHS Says ICE Officers Have “Federal Immunity.” The Law Is More Complicated. appeared first on The New American.
Do ICE agents truly have ‘absolute immunity’?
U.S. Vice President JD Vance has suggested that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are protected by absolute immunity from prosecution over their actions. However, legal experts say ICE agents can still face criminal charges or civil lawsuits.The question centers on the balance between federal officers duty to protect lives and civil rights, and their own legal protections when making split-second decisions in dangerous situations.…
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