Federalist Radio Hour Episode: ICE Takes Heat For Making America Safe Again Host: Matt Kittle Date: January 13, 2026 Guest: Harry Fones, DHS Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs

Overview

This episode focuses on the increasing dangers faced by ICE agents, especially in sanctuary cities like Minneapolis and Portland. Host Matt Kittle and guest Harry Fones discuss recent high-profile confrontations involving ICE, the political and media narratives surrounding these events, and the broader implications for law enforcement, public safety, and national immigration policy. The conversation is candid, sharply critical of sanctuary policies and media coverage, and highlights what the speakers see as the unrecognized human costs of illegal immigration and anti-ICE rhetoric.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Minneapolis Incident: ICE Agent-Involved Shooting

• Description: The recent fatal shooting of Renee Goode, who allegedly struck an ICE officer with her vehicle before being shot by the agent in apparent self-defense.
• Guest’s Update: Harry Fones details ongoing violent resistance against ICE in Minneapolis, mentioning attacks on officers including vehicles being weaponized and fireworks shot at agents.
  • “We have had officers deployed there since this; they are making arrests, they're enforcing the laws … they are not facing support—they are facing attacks almost every day.” (02:18)
• Increase in Attacks: Fones shares statistics: 8,000% increase in death threats, 1,300% increase in assaults, 3,200% increase in vehicle attacks against ICE (05:23).

2. Who is Being Protected?

• Criminal Backgrounds: Kittle and Fones argue that the resistance is defending individuals with severe criminal histories (murder, sexual assault, gang activity).
  • “Here are the thieves, child rapists, and murderers... That's who they're trying to protect, it appears to us.” (04:01)
  • Fones lists recent Minneapolis arrests: armed robbery, indecent exposure, drug offenses, criminal sexual conduct (05:23).
• Sanctuary Policies: They link increased danger and the need for ICE presence to “sanctuary” policies that prevent cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
  • “We are in Minneapolis because these politicians aren't. We’re having to go in because they're sanctuary jurisdictions and they don't want to work with law enforcement.” (07:23)

3. Political Rhetoric and Demonization

• Politician Accusations: Host and guest discuss politicians labeling ICE as “Trump’s new Gestapo,” criticizing such rhetoric as historically ignorant and dangerous.
  • Fones: “Every day our officers are being compared to the Nazis and the Gestapo, which is just wrong. That should be stopped.” (07:23)
• Consequences: Such rhetoric, they argue, emboldens attacks on officers and undermines rule of law.
  • “You shouldn't be encouraging violence against officers nor should you...be encouraging people to obstruct enforcement from doing their job.” (23:40)

4. Obstruction and Legal Questions

• Obstruction Charges: The hosts note a recent case of a judge being convicted for obstructing ICE, questioning why similar public official actions elsewhere aren’t prosecuted.
• Enforcement Challenges: Many local officials openly encourage resistance or non-cooperation, which Fones says puts officers and communities at risk and forces more aggressive federal action.

5. Portland Operation: Gang Arrests

• Incident Recap: Fones describes a recent ICE operation in Portland targeting TDA gang members—a group involved in terrorism, kidnapping, and drug trafficking.
  • “Not just criminals—members of TDA which is a terrorist organization…As they went to make the arrest, the driver decided to weaponize it and drive at the officer; shots were fired defensively.” (19:21)
• Media/Elected Official Response: Both lament the initial political and media narratives that present arrestees as innocent, disregarding available criminal intelligence.

6. Media’s Role in Shaping Narratives

• Media Bias: Fones accuses the "accomplice media" of consistently misrepresenting incidents, painting those involved as innocent victims and ignoring the victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants.
  • “We shouldn't be making heroes out of people who are trying to stop officers from arresting criminals…Look at the reporting, and look at what they're reporting against the Office of Public Affairs at DHS.” (27:04)
• Ignored Victims: They highlight stories of American families affected by crimes that are not covered in mainstream press (e.g., Joe Abraham’s daughter, Katie Abraham).

7. Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office

• Reactivation: The Biden administration had shut the VOICE office, which the current administration has reinstated.
  • “One of the things that Secretary Noem has done is we've actually reactivated an office called VOICE—Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement.” (30:40)
• Support for Families: Fones encourages affected victims and families to access resources through VOICE.

8. Future Risks and Law Enforcement Response

• Potential for More Turmoil: Kittle asks if Fones expects a repeat of the "Summer of Love" protests.
  • Fones expresses hope for de-escalation, reiterates ICE’s commitment to enforcement: “We are not backing down. We are going to continue to enforce the laws of this nation.” (32:53)
• Ongoing Federal Operations: Fones confirms a “historic deployment” of ICE and federal agents to Minneapolis; will not disclose specifics for officer safety (33:53).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the hostile climate for ICE:
  “There’s been a three-thousand, two-hundred percent increase in vehicle attacks…the mission our officers are trying to do is get criminal bad guys off the street.” – Harry Fones (05:23)

• On sanctuary jurisdictions and cooperation:
  “We want to work with state and local governments…because of these sanctuary policies, we can't do that in a place like Minneapolis.” – Harry Fones (07:23)

• On dangerous rhetoric:
  “If you are just constantly…being compared to Nazis and the Gestapo…these guys do not know their history clearly.” – Harry Fones (07:23)

• A poignant moment:
  Kittle shares a story of a Minneapolis resident praying over ICE agents for safety—“What a stark contrast that is, Harry, to the sort of vitriol we’re seeing on the streets…” (13:11)

• On the overlooked costs:
  “It’s American families that are being impacted by this. It’s innocent lives that are being taken.” – Harry Fones (29:21)

• On the mission and public perception:
  “We should be thanking them because we see the fruits of their labor, which is all these criminals that are going out.” – Harry Fones (16:07)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:18] – Update on Minneapolis incident and surge in violence against ICE
• [05:23] – Increase in attacks on ICE; nature of those being arrested
• [07:23] – Political rhetoric and its effects; sanctuary policy obstacles
• [15:18] – Recollection of prior similar attacks on ICE officers
• [19:21] – Portland ICE operation against TDA gang members
• [23:40] – Discussion of legal lines crossed in obstructing ICE
• [27:04] – Media analysis and effect on public perception
• [30:40] – VOICE office reactivation and victim support
• [32:53] – Risk of future unrest and ICE’s continued commitment
• [33:53] – Historic ICE deployment, city/state pushback, supremacy clause

Tone

The conversation is frank, combative, and unapologetically critical of left-leaning politicians, media outlets, and sanctuary policies. Both speakers maintain a tone of urgency and moral clarity, repeatedly calling for greater recognition of the sacrifices and dangers endured by ICE officers, and for a more balanced media narrative acknowledging victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants.

This summary provides a comprehensive view of the episode, touching on the main arguments and evidence presented, notable statistics and stories shared, and the passion driving both host and guest in this discussion about ICE, law enforcement, and immigration policy.