Podcast Summary — Radio Atlantic: "The Department of Homeland Security Theater"

Date: March 26, 2026
Host: Hanna Rosin
Guests: Nick Miroff (The Atlantic immigration staff writer), Janae West

Brief Overview

This episode of Radio Atlantic delves into the evolving role and perception of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with a focus on the recent and controversial deployment of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents at U.S. airports amid a TSA staffing crisis. The episode critiques what the hosts describe as the "theater" of DHS policy, evaluating both political optics and operational reality. The conversation also explores the agency’s ongoing rebranding under its new Secretary, Markwayne Mullin, and how mass deportation policy is shifting to become more effective—if less visible—in the public eye.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. ICE at Airports: Origins and Intentions (01:05–10:22)

• Trigger Event:
  ICE agents were deployed to airports during a lapse in DHS funding, prompted by a suggestion on a conservative radio show, quickly adopted by President Trump.
  • “He loved it enough that he brought it up on Fox News later that day.” — Hanna Rosin (01:37)
• Political Theater vs. Practicality:
  The move was largely symbolic—a show of toughness amid TSA shortages—rather than an effective operational solution.
  • Quote:
    “My first thought was, this isn’t gonna help. Second was that this is consistent with the way the President views ICE as more than like, a personal army, kind of like a personal errand corps.” — Nick Miroff (04:01)
• ICE's Real Role at Airports:
  ICE officers primarily stood around, providing a PR opportunity rather than substantial security assistance.
  • “All week, what we’ve seen is imagery of ICE officers mostly standing around. And ironically, it’s kind of a nice PR opportunity for an agency that has obviously been widely vilified over the past year for its role in places like Minneapolis.” — Nick Miroff (05:15)
• Split Public Perception:
  For some, the presence of ICE arouses fear—raising concerns about civil rights—while others find reassurance.
  • Incident Highlight:
    A viral video showed an ICE arrest at San Francisco airport, raising concerns about increased inter-agency data sharing and targeted operations, but not a sweeping change to ICE’s operational scope.

2. The Politics and Optics of Immigration Enforcement (10:22–16:15)

• Temporary Fixes, Long-term Consequences:
  ICE presence at airports is not a sustainable or efficient fix for TSA shortages and damages TSA recruitment.
  • “ICE…are supposed to be investigating drug cartels and human traffickers. And they’re out there standing around in the airport making five times as much as the TSA agents are supposed to be replacing.” — Nick Miroff (10:22)
• Rebranding & New DHS Leadership:
  Markwayne Mullin’s appointment as DHS Secretary signals a shift in tone—if not policy—after the controversial Kristi Noem era.
  • “He does have this reputation as a kind of jocular, back slapping, friendly guy...most importantly, the career workforce at the department...have been telling me that they’re very eager for a fresh start and that Mullen is saying all the right things to win them over so far.” — Nick Miroff (13:58)
• Mullin’s Background and Tensions:
  Former MMA fighter and Oklahoma Senator/congressman, seen as personally close to President Trump, has bipartisan rapport but is also experiencing internal Republican tensions.
  • Memorable moment: A play-by-play of a heated Senate exchange between Mullin and Rand Paul (12:07–12:14).

3. Rebranding ICE and Shifting Strategies (15:52–19:01)

• Quiet Reform, Same Goals:
  Under Mullin and "border czar" Tom Homan, the strategy is to carry out mass deportations—but more quietly, with less spectacle than under previous leadership.
  • “This is about delivering on the President’s mass deportation agenda, but more quietly, you know, without the kind of spectacle that the GNOME team has been producing.” — Nick Miroff (17:47)
• Change in Public Messaging:
  Moving away from overtly nativist and white nationalist messaging in recruiting and public affairs.
• Continued Influence Behind The Scenes:
  Tom Homan remains influential, focused on making the agency appear less aggressive in public while maintaining its core enforcement agenda.
  • “Tom Homan…has been trying to turn down the temperature…reassure Americans the uglier scenes…are gonna go away.” — Nick Miroff (16:15)

4. Policy vs. Optics: Targeted Enforcement and Mass Deportation (19:01–23:39)

• Underlying Agenda Remains:
  Despite softer rhetoric, the resources and legal mandate remain in place for ramping up mass deportations, including controversial tactics from the Trump administration’s first term.
  • “It isn’t like they’re going to really back off of mass deportations…and they are going to fulfill this agenda. They’re just going to manage the politics much differently.” — Nick Miroff (19:01)
• “Gentler Face,” More Effective Operations:
  Policy levers are being pulled with less visibility but more efficiency.
  • “You just can go and do it because you have the money and you have the personnel and you know how to execute these deportations. And that’s what Tom Homan represents.” — Nick Miroff (20:45)
  • “So the era we are entering is one in which ICE could have a gentler face, but is actually more effectively carrying out the President’s policies.” — Hannah Rosin (22:24)

5. Democratic Negotiation and Internal Reforms (23:39–25:35)

• Democratic Policy Demands:
  Democrats are pushing for limits on ICE tactics—like ending the use of masks and requiring warrants for home raids.
  • “You saw Mark Wayne Mullen, during the confirmation hearing say that he would return to the policy requiring ICE to have a judicial warrant to go into someone’s private home.” — Nick Miroff (24:28)
• Mask Policy Sticking Point:
  Despite concessions, ICE is holding onto mask-usage for officer anonymity, citing concerns over doxxing and safety for officers’ families.

6. Looking Forward: Mass Detention Centers (25:35–27:46)

• Agency Expansion:
  ICE is in the midst of a multibillion-dollar initiative to acquire and convert warehouses into mass detention centers across the country to meet aggressive deportation targets.
  • “They’re planning to convert them into large mass detention centers with capacity for, in some places, for up to 10,000 detainees…They have $38 billion to convert these facilities and to operate them through the rest of Trump’s term.” — Nick Miroff (25:55)
• Local Backlash:
  Even in Trump-friendly regions, there’s pushback against new detention centers, complicating permit approvals needed for expansion.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “ICE was my idea. I called. First person I called was Tom Homan. I said, what do you think?” — Quoting Trump, via Tom Homan (02:32)
• “This is consistent with the way the President views ICE as more than like, a personal army, kind of like a personal errand corps...” — Nick Miroff (04:01)
• “What he represents is this institutional—think of it as institutional ICE on steroids. You don’t have to go out and troll people visually or online…you just can go and do it.” — Nick Miroff (20:45)
• "My goal is for people to understand we’re out there, we’re protecting them, and we’re working with them. My goal is to make every one of you guys proud.” — Secretary Markwayne Mullin (17:33)
• “Because they’re worried about being doxxed and...their families being harassed. And, you know, I’m sorry, but that’s a real thing.” — Nick Miroff on mask policy (25:29)
• “That’s what I signed up for.” — Nick Miroff, reflecting the ICE officer mindset (23:30)

Important Timestamps

• 01:05 — Opening: Context, radio call, birth of the ICE-at-airports idea
• 04:01–05:47 — Nick Miroff explains the policy's symbolic nature and PR function
• 07:24–09:52 — ICE’s actual scope at airports and the role of data-sharing
• 10:22–14:08 — Discussion of DHS leadership, TSA morale, and the Markwayne Mullin confirmation
• 15:52–17:47 — Beginning of the agency’s rebranding and Homan’s mentorship of Mullin
• 19:01–22:34 — ICE’s pivot: less visible, more efficient deportation efforts
• 25:55–27:46 — ICE’s mass detention expansion and local opposition

Conclusion / Main Takeaways

• The ICE deployment at airports is largely a political performance, not a long-term operational solution.
• Debate over ICE’s public presence reflects deeper divides in how Americans perceive DHS and its agencies: as protectors, invaders, or both.
• With new leadership, the agency’s tone is shifting—less inflammatory, more “professional”—but the underlying mission (mass deportation and detention infrastructure expansion) is not.
• Internal reforms are happening, but some secrecy and aggressive tactics (like mask-wearing) remain, justified as necessary for operational security.
• The episode warns of a coming era of more efficient, less visible mass deportations—a “gentler face” for policies that remain fundamentally aggressive.

For Further Listening

Listeners left with questions about the humanitarian, legal, or logistical ramifications of ICE’s new direction are encouraged to follow The Atlantic's ongoing coverage of immigration policy and look for future episodes addressing mass detention and local reactions.