Why the new wave of ICE recruits is raising alarm bells

Summary

Podcast Summary: Apple News Today

Episode: "Why the new wave of ICE recruits is raising alarm bells"

Date: January 28, 2026
Host: Shumita Basu
Featured Journalists: Nick Miroff (The Atlantic), Michael Biesecker (Associated Press), Emma Roth (The Verge)

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Overview

This episode explores growing concerns over the recruitment and training of new ICE officers during President Trump’s second term, following internal changes and heightened enforcement operations. The show examines recent controversial incidents involving ICE, troubling recruitment tactics, and the implications for both detainees and the broader public. Also covered are updates on TikTok’s American takeover, US population growth trends, Amazon’s retreat from physical grocery stores, and the end of Southwest Airlines’ open seating policy.

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Main Topic

ICE Recruitment and Border Enforcement under Trump (00:45–08:34)

1. Changes in Leadership and Approach

• President Trump is "stepping back from some of the more charged language" regarding enforcement events in Minneapolis (00:47).
• Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended; Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bevino sidelined after criticism (01:02–01:24).
  • Quote (Trump, as paraphrased): “Bavino's very good, but he's a pretty out there kind of a guy. And in some cases that's good. Maybe it wasn't good here.” [01:12]

2. Expanded ICE & Border Patrol Scope

• ICE and Border Patrol are now operating in city environments far from the southern border, leading to “intense frustration” among DHS officials (01:36–02:14).
  • Quote (Nick Miroff): “We’ve never seen Border Patrol agents deployed to US Cities far from the southern border at this scale... instead they’re also out on the streets driving around these cities, getting in these confrontations with angry protesters.” [02:14]
• Traditional targeted enforcement replaced by broader patrols.

3. Accelerated Recruitment and Training Concerns

• Budget increases led to rapid headcount expansion; training for new ICE deportation officers cut to 42 days (02:45–02:56).
  • Quote (Nick Miroff): “They have cut the training for new recruits by more than half... that's producing a lot of concern within ICE, within the Department of Homeland Security about the qualifications and the aptitude of the new recruits who are going to be out on the streets.” [02:56]
• Internal ICE documents show a "wartime recruitment strategy," targeting individuals interested in guns/tactical gear and using militaristic language like "Destroy the flood" and "the enemies are at the gate" (03:18–03:38).
• ICE veterans express discomfort with new, undertrained recruits during volatile situations (03:42–03:53).
  • Quote (Miroff): "...the last thing you want to be doing if you’re an experienced ICE officer is to go out with somebody that you don’t think is well trained and you’re not sure you can trust." [03:53]

4. High-Profile Incidents and Accountability

• The fatal shooting of Alex Preddy: initial ICE claims contradicted by video evidence; official review found no weapon was brandished by Preddy (01:36–01:43, 04:32–04:43).
• Ongoing debate over rhetoric and the portrayal of ICE operations.

5. Detainee Deaths and Facility Oversight

• Third detainee, Geraldo Lunas Campos, dies in Texas ICE facility under suspicious circumstances; autopsy ruled homicide by asphyxia (05:11–05:59).
  • Quote (Michael Biesecker): “The final medical examiner’s report did determine that the cause of death was homicide by asphyxia... This witness... said that he saw Lunas Campos being held down by at least 5 gu[ards].” [05:59]
• Facility located on a military base, complicating legal jurisdiction and investigation (06:44–06:58).
• Recent string of deaths (15 in reported time period—possibly undercounted), with questions about transparency and oversight (08:10–08:17).

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Segment Highlights and Notable Quotes

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote / Moment | |-----------|--------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:12 | Trump (paraphrased) | “Bavino's very good, but he's a pretty out there kind of a guy. And in some cases that's good. Maybe it wasn't good here.” | | 02:14 | Nick Miroff | “We’ve never seen Border Patrol agents deployed to US Cities far from the southern border at this scale...” | | 02:56 | Nick Miroff | “They have cut the training for new recruits by more than half... producing a lot of concern...” | | 03:38 | Recruitment posters | “Destroy the flood” and “the enemies are at the gate” (militarized language in recruitment materials) | | 03:53 | Nick Miroff | "...the last thing you want to be doing if you’re an experienced ICE officer is to go out with somebody that you don’t think is well trained..." | | 05:59 | Michael Biesecker | “The final medical examiner’s report did determine that the cause of death was homicide by asphyxia...” | | 07:00 | Michael Biesecker | Concerns over who investigates deaths at Fort Bliss-based Camp East Montana, due to federal jurisdiction. |

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Additional Topics

TikTok’s Algorithm and US Takeover (08:34–11:52)

• TikTok now mostly American-owned; algorithm under transformation, causing widespread glitches and anxiety among creators (09:01–10:22).
• Creators claim political censorship, especially regarding posts about ICE and Minneapolis events.
  • Quote (Megan Stalter, 10:46): “We have to abolish ice.”
• No proof of deliberate censorship; TikTok blames infrastructure outage, but concerns linger over new owner Larry Ellison’s political ties.
• Quote (Emma Roth, 11:30): “People are just worried that their algorithm will be skewed toward a specific viewpoint… there's a vibe shift.”

US Population Growth and Immigration Trends (12:07–12:43)

• US experiences slowest population growth since pandemic (0.5%); attributed to sharp drop in international migration.

Amazon’s Grocery Store Retreat (12:55–13:44)

• Amazon closing all brick-and-mortar grocery stores due to lukewarm customer reception, focusing on Whole Foods and new large-scale formats.

Southwest Airlines Ends Open Seating (13:44–14:30)

• After 50+ years, Southwest eliminates open seating, dividing customers; follows the end of their free bag policy. Changes driven by investor pressure for profitability.

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:45 — ICE/Border Patrol under Trump, leadership changes
• 01:43 — Alex Preddy case and video evidence
• 02:14 — Expanded ICE enforcement in US cities
• 02:56 — Accelerated ICE recruitment and concerns
• 03:38 — Militarized recruitment language
• 03:53 — ICE veteran concerns with new hires
• 05:11 — Geraldo Lunas Campos death at Texas ICE facility
• 06:44 — Camp East Montana details and jurisdiction issues
• 08:34 — TikTok’s US acquisition and algorithm troubles
• 10:46 — Alleged TikTok censorship (Megan Stalter quote)
• 12:07 — US population growth figures
• 12:55 — Amazon grocery stores closing
• 13:44 — Southwest Airlines’ seating policy change

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Overall Tone

• Urgent, investigative, and grounded in firsthand reporting
• Concerned about government transparency, accountability, and the consequences of rapid institutional change
• Includes direct, plainspoken statements from reporters, witnesses, and affected parties

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For further reading and detailed coverage, see The Atlantic, Associated Press, and The Verge articles referenced throughout the episode.

Transcript

[News Anchor]

Good morning. As President Trump signals change at the.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Top of Border Patrol, the Atlantic investigates problems from within.

[Nick Miroff]

There's a lot of concern about the qualifications and the aptitude of the new recruits who are going to be out on the streets over the coming months.

[News Anchor]

Why? TikTok users say the app isn't what.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

It used to be. Just a few days into the new American ownership structure and an end of an era.

[News Anchor]

Wyatt's final call for open seating at Southwest Airline.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Shalom.

[News Anchor]

It's Wednesday, January 28th.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

I'm Shemitah Basu. This is Apple News today.

[News Anchor]

President Trump signaled in a few ways.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Yesterday that he's stepping back from some of the more charged language used by others in his administration in describing recent events in Minneapolis.

[News Anchor]

In a Fox interview, Trump said he.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Planned to de escalate a little bit and said a big investigation was underway.

[News Anchor]

He defended Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

From bipartisan criticism, but he was more ambiguous about Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bevino.

[Border Patrol Official]

It's a little bit of a change. Everybody in this room that has a business, you know, you make little changes. You know, Bavino's very good, but he's a pretty out there kind of a guy. And in some cases that's good. Maybe it wasn't good here.

[News Anchor]

Bavino has been sidelined for now, but until recently had been tasked with delivering.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

On Noem's hardline crackdown across major cities.

[News Anchor]

Nick Miroff is a staff writer with the Atlantic and has been reporting on.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

How ICE has changed under Trump's second term and how it handled the fatal shooting of Alex Preddy.

[Nick Miroff]

Some of the most intense frustration that I have heard from DHS officials has to do with the way that all of these folks jumped to label Preddy an aggressor. They said that he had come to commit a massacre of federal agents. And then when the videos came out and showed nothing of the sort, it really has blown up in their faces.

[News Anchor]

Miroff told us that under Trump's second.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Term, ICE and Border Patrol's scope has expanded in ways not seen before and to situations they don't have much experience in.

[Nick Miroff]

We've never seen Border Patrol agents deployed to US Cities far from the southern border at this scale. And the same thing with ice. You know, ICE has historically operated as by something called targeted enforcement, where they do research in advance on the targets they're looking to take into custody. And instead they're also out on the streets driving around these cities, getting in these confrontations with angry protesters. So everyone is pushed outside their comfort.

[News Anchor]

Zone as their Responsibilities have expanded, so.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Too has the budget and with that, the headcount.

[News Anchor]

But as Miroff told us, there is.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Huge pressure to get new agents out onto the streets quickly and fast track their induction.

[Nick Miroff]

They have cut the training for new recruits by more than half. It's now only 42 days for new deportation officers. And so that's producing a lot of concern within ice, within the Department of Homeland Security about the qualifications and the aptitude of the new recruits who are going to be out on the streets over the coming months.

[News Anchor]

The Department of Homeland Security has faced.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Criticism for the rhetoric of its recruitment efforts.

[News Anchor]

An internal document seen by the Washington.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Post referred to a, quote, wartime recruitment.

[News Anchor]

Strategy that would target people online who.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Had, for example, shown an interest in guns and tactical gear or consumed particular.

[News Anchor]

Podcasts and recent recruitment posters use language.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Like Destroy the flood and the enemies are at the gate.

[News Anchor]

ICE veterans told the Atlantic they're concerned.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

About the quality of recent hires joining the ranks as these big deportation campaigns are being mounted in major cities.

[Nick Miroff]

This campaign to achieve a million deportations a year is supposed to be advanced by the deployment of all these new officers. But as we've seen in Minneapolis, this is already an incredibly combustible situation. And the last thing want to be doing if you're an experienced ICE officer is to go out with somebody that you don't think is well trained and you're not sure you Can Trust.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

An ICE spokesperson responded to Miroff's reporting by saying its 42 day ICE Academy course covers de escalation and proper use of force training.

[News Anchor]

And DHS said in a statement that.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

ICE officers go through, quote, rigorous on the job training and mentorship.

[News Anchor]

Yesterday, a preliminary assessment from Border Patrol shared with Congress concluded two federal agents.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Had fired shots during the encounter with Preddy.

[News Anchor]

Shared with npr, the review said Preddy.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Resisted arrest but made no mention of him brandishing a weapon, as was initially suggested.

[News Anchor]

As scrutiny continues over the enforcement operations.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

In towns and cities, there's also the issue of how detainees are being treated after being taken.

[News Anchor]

And just a quick warning to our.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Listeners that we'll be referencing suicide here.

[News Anchor]

Earlier this month, Geraldo Lunas Campos became.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

The third detainee at one Texas facility to die in ICE custody.

[News Anchor]

His death has become a complex case. The autopsy report ruled it a homicide.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

And other detainees have said they heard a struggle between him and guards, as well as Campos pleading that he couldn't breathe.

[News Anchor]

The facility says he experienced medical distress while in segregation. And in a 911 call, a private.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Guard said that Lunas Campos had tried to hang himself. He was put into handcuffs and then stopped breathing during a subsequent struggle.

[News Anchor]

Yesterday, the US Agreed not to deport.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Key witnesses until they can give depositions.

[News Anchor]

Michael Biesecker is a global investigative reporter.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

For the Associated Press and has been following this case.

[Michael Biesecker]

The final medical examiner's report did determine that the cause of death was homicide by asphyxia, but it detailed a number of injuries, including bruises on his knees, his chest. Those were consistent with what we had been told at the Associated Press by a witness we were able to interview. This witness is a detainee who was in a neighboring segregation cell who said that he saw Lunas Campos being held down by at least 5 gu.

[News Anchor]

According to the AP, federal officials have.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Maintained that he was attempting suicide and staff tried to intervene.

[News Anchor]

ICE statements over the past few weeks.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Offered differing accounts of what happened to.

[News Anchor]

Lunas Campos, who had received a deportation.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Removal order from a judge in 2005 and had served some subsequent prison time on a drug charge. This facility in Texas, Camp East Montana, opened in August on the Fort Bliss military base.

[Michael Biesecker]

It's expected to be the largest detainee facility in the United States with more than 5,000 people held there. And there have been questions about it from the start. It's a temp facility in the middle of the desert, and the fact that it's on a military base can raise some issues with legal jurisdiction about who can investigate a potential crime at that facility since it is on federal property.

[News Anchor]

One person is believed to have died.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

In a nearby hospital due to an alcohol related liver disease.

[News Anchor]

And in another, more recent case, a.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Man'S death was classified by federal officials as a presumed suicide, but is under investigation by ice.

[Michael Biesecker]

What we know about the most recent death is again, the body was sent to the army hospital. We're told by ICE that an autopsy will be done on the body there and is underway, but we don't know whether that autopsy will be released to the public. We don't know if anyone other than ICE is going to investigate this death. And we don't know how the public will learn what happened beyond what ICE chooses to tell us about what happened.

[News Anchor]

Last summer, Congress authorized about $45 billion.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

To expand ICE detention.

[News Anchor]

Between late January and the end of September of 2025, the agency reported that.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

There were 15 deaths in its custody, though that figure is likely higher, according to some other journalistic and congressional sources.

[News Anchor]

It's been less than a week since TikTok's new American owners officially took over, and it's been a tough start. As we mentioned yesterday there was a.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Landmark lawsuit alleging that TikTok, among other.

[News Anchor]

Social media platforms, was serving up dangerously.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Addictive content, particularly for teens.

[News Anchor]

Well, at the last minute TikTok opted.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

To settle, avoiding a potentially damaging public trial.

[News Anchor]

Perhaps the bigger challenge though, was scrutiny.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Over the all important formula that shapes what content we see and how the new owners will manage changes ahead A.

[Emma Roth]

Lot is still unknown about what is going to be happening to TikTok's algorithm.

[News Anchor]

Emma Roth is a news writer for the Verge.

[Emma Roth]

They do say it's going to be retrained on US user data and they're going to test and then update it. But we don't know how they're going to be retraining it if they're going to be prioritizing certain topics or trends.

[News Anchor]

Last week's deal was meant to resolve long standing concerns that TikTok's Chinese ownership.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Posed national security risks.

[News Anchor]

The new deal gives American companies overwhelming.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Control, though the old Chinese company keeps a small stake and seat on the board.

[News Anchor]

TikTok insists that even with all that.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Going on behind the scenes, not much should change on the user experience side.

[News Anchor]

But as the algorithm was going through.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

This transformation over the past few days, apparent glitches took hold that have rocked.

[News Anchor]

User confidence, especially for TikTokers like Ksapp.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Whose career depends on views.

[TikTok User Ksapp]

So for the past two days, all of my TikTok videos have been getting zero views. Mind you, this was four days ago, this was four days ago and now this is what it looks like. There's a lot of TikTok creators that this is also happening to, and I think the reason is because there's an algorithm reset.

[News Anchor]

As you can see, some creators even saw all of their analytics data wiped out, and the problems led some people to speculate about censorship for political topics. A number of users said their posts.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

About recent events in Minneapolis weren't uploading on the app.

[News Anchor]

Like this video from Megan Stalter, one.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Of the stars of the HBO show Hacks who posted this to Instagram.

[Megan Stalter]

I strongly urge you to follow what the Bible actually says. When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. Cannot stop talking about this. We have to abolish ice.

[News Anchor]

In later posts on other platforms, she said she tried for hours to upload.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Her statement on TikTok and claimed she was being censored and monitored.

[News Anchor]

Now, to be clear, there is no.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Concrete evidence this was a coordinated change from the company. And TikTok says the problem was caused by a power outage that led to major infrastructure issues. But that hasn't stopped the speculation, Roth.

[News Anchor]

Told us some TikTok users are wary of Larry Ellison, the co founder of.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Oracle and a Trump ally who now has a 15% stake in TikTok.

[Emma Roth]

I think that people are just worried that their algorithm will be skewed toward a specific viewpoint. They're concerned about like a vibe shift going on there. But for now, I know that TikTok has the same community guidelines as it did before, so I don't think we'll see too many major changes there.

[News Anchor]

Yet with all the problems of the.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Past week, many users have agreed, at least right now, the algorithm just ain't what it used to be.

[News Anchor]

And finally, a few other stories we're following. The US Experienced its slowest rate of.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Population growth since the pandemic, according to new estimates from the Census Bureau.

[News Anchor]

Between July of 2020 and 2025, the.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Population grew by just 0.5%.

[News Anchor]

A census official said it was likely.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Caused by a historic decline in international migration to the US which dipped from 2.7 million to 1.3 million over that period.

[News Anchor]

If the trend continues, forecasters say net.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Immigration could drop by another million people in 2026.

[News Anchor]

The figures are stark as they come.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

After a rapid period of growth under the Biden administration. The US population grew by 1% from 2023 to about 3.2 million people.

[News Anchor]

Amazon is letting go of its dream.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Of revolutionizing grocery store shopping since launching.

[News Anchor]

Its first brick and mortar grocery store in 2018. The pitch was futuristic.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

You just grab whatever items you want and walk out of the store with a scanner automatically charging your online account.

[News Anchor]

But it turns out customers never really warmed to it. The company announced it would be closing.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

All of its 70 or so physical stores in the coming days.

[News Anchor]

Amazon still wants to translate its digital.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Business into the real world, though. It acquired Whole foods back in 2017.

[News Anchor]

And plans to expand those stores.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

And it recently announced plans for a230,000 square foot big box store in Chicago. For reference, that's around 80,000 square feet bigger than your average Costco.

[News Anchor]

And finally, passengers of Southwest Airlines are bidding farewell to the thing many said.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Made the carrier special open seating.

[News Anchor]

If you've ever flown Southwest, you are.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Familiar with the policy, which was that.

[News Anchor]

You could take any open seat you wish.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

No assignments, first come, first serve.

[News Anchor]

Southwest seating policy was in place for.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

More than half a century, but it ended yesterday.

[News Anchor]

AZ Central reports the change is dividing customers. Some say they can now relax, knowing.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

They might not get stuck in a middle seat.

[News Anchor]

Others scoffed at the airline for abandoning.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

The thing that set them apart.

[News Anchor]

This is the second big change for.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Southwest passengers after the airline eliminated its bags fly free policy last year, which allowed up to two free checked pieces of luggage.

[News Anchor]

Why is all of this happening?

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Well, azcentral reports an activist investor with a nearly $2 billion stake in the airline says it wants to return the airline to profitability.

[News Anchor]

You can find all these stories and.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

More in the Apple News app.

[News Anchor]

And if you're already listening in the news app right now, we've got a.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Narrated article coming up next.

[News Anchor]

Town and country explores how switching colleges.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Midway through used to be a pretty.

[News Anchor]

Rare occurrence, but now advisors, parents and.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

College officials are adopting transfers as a way to a better education.

[News Anchor]

If you're listening in the podcast app.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Follow Apple News plus narrated to find that story. And I'll be back with the news tomorrow.