ICE Leaving Minnesota, DHS Funding Deadline, EPA Vehicle Emissions

Summary

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Up First from NPR: ICE Leaving Minnesota, DHS Funding Deadline, EPA Vehicle Emissions

Date: February 13, 2026
Hosts: Steve Inskeep, Leila Fadel
Episode Focus:
This episode examines three major U.S. news stories: the withdrawal of ICE agents from Minnesota and the aftermath; looming federal funding issues for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); and a seismic EPA decision dropping vehicle emissions regulations.

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1. ICE Operation Ends in Minnesota: Fallout & Community Response

Timestamps: Main Story: 00:02 – 06:20

Key Discussion Points

• ICE Withdrawing After Major Crackdown:
  ICE and DHS announced the end of a two-month surge in Minnesota which led to over 4,000 arrests. The operation had broad impacts, including detaining American citizens, disrupting businesses, sparking protests, and leading to the deaths of two local residents, Renee Macklin Good and Alex Preddy, both killed on camera.

• Federal and Local Statements:

  • ICE’s Tom Homan cited "mission accomplished," and claimed improved cooperation with local law enforcement, but specifics were lacking.
    • Quote: “We have obtained an unprecedented level of coordination with law enforcement officials that is focused on promoting public safety across the entire state.” — Tom Homan (03:33)
  • Minnesota officials, however, said little has changed in their policies and called for vigilance as agents withdraw.

• State and Community Backlash:

  • Governor Tim Walz forcefully condemned the operation’s impact:
    • Quote: “They left us with deep damage, generational trauma. They left us with economic ruin. In some cases, they left us with many unanswered questions. Where are our children? Where and what is the process of the investigations into those that were responsible for the deaths of Renee and Alex?” — Gov. Tim Walz (04:32)
  • Community organizers report both immigrants and citizens living in fear, particularly non-white residents who carry passports for safety. Many families continue to rely on aid as people are afraid to go outside or report for work.
  • Governor Walz is seeking federal and state emergency funding for recovery, including a proposed $10 million fund for affected small businesses.

Notable Community Quote

• Quote: “Are families really going to trust that ICE is gone after all the lies that have come out of the government?” — Ann Hill, community organizer (05:44)

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2. DHS Funding Deadline Looms: Political Standoff & Congressional Testimony

Timestamps: Main Story: 06:31 – 10:06

Key Discussion Points

• Senate Fails to Advance DHS Funding Bill:

  • Democrats refuse to support funding without significant changes to ICE enforcement tactics.
    • Quote: “Democrats will not support a blank check for chaos.” — Senator Chuck Schumer (06:54)
  • Some reforms, like mandatory body cameras, have bipartisan support, but more controversial proposals (e.g., unmasked ICE officers) face Republican resistance.
  • A shutdown would affect TSA and FEMA, but not ICE, which was separately funded with $70 billion in the previous summer's spending bill.

• Congressional Scrutiny of ICE and DHS:

  • ICE and Customs and Border Protection officials testified before the Senate, but DHS Secretary Kristi Noem did not. Senators expressed frustration at her absence.
  • Notably, CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott contradicted Noem’s assertion that Alex Preddy was a “domestic terrorist,” saying no one in his agency had labeled him as such.
    • Summary: Noem’s narrative about Preddy’s death appears unsubstantiated by CBP leadership.

• Use of Force Concerns:

  • Senate hearings probed ICE’s use of force, with Committee Chair Rand Paul highlighting video of Alex Preddy’s killing, noting apparent lack of threat by Preddy and criticizing officers’ actions.
    • Quote: “I see nothing here. I mean, not even a hint of something that was aggressive on his part. Everything was retreat.” — Senator Rand Paul (09:32)
  • ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons revealed more than three dozen internal investigations into excessive use of force this year, with several pending.

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3. EPA Drops Vehicle Emissions Regulations: Industry and Environmental Fallout

Timestamps: Main Story: 10:14 – 13:40

Key Discussion Points

• EPA Abandons Greenhouse Gas Authority:
  The EPA rescinded its 2009 “endangerment finding,” a crucial legal basis requiring regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. The EPA now claims regulation of carbon emissions must be explicitly mandated by Congress, which is unlikely in the current political climate.

  • Quote: “If Congress wants it [EPA] to regulate greenhouse gases, then they need to pass a law that does that specifically.” — Camila Domonosky (10:45)

• Immediate and Long-Term Impact:

  • The rule change eliminates regulatory requirements for reducing emissions from vehicles.
  • In the near term, automakers are less pressured to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles, particularly plug-in hybrids and EVs. This favors larger, less efficient vehicles, which are more profitable.
  • President Trump claims this move will lower vehicle costs, but experts say Americans could end up spending more on gas.

• Industry Reaction:

  • While automakers sought relief from stringent Biden-era targets (due to slow uptake of EVs), they didn’t necessarily want the regulations eliminated entirely. The legal uncertainty caused by repealing the EPA’s authority may be destabilizing.
    • Summary: The industry prefers relaxed but stable rules over a total regulatory void and legal battles.

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4. Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On ICE’s departure from Minnesota:
  “They left us with deep damage, generational trauma. They left us with economic ruin.” — Gov. Tim Walz (04:32)

• On Congressional deadlock:
  “Democrats will not support a blank check for chaos.” — Senator Chuck Schumer (06:54)

• On use of force and Senate investigation:
  “I see nothing here. I mean, not even a hint of something that was aggressive on his part. Everything was retreat.” — Senator Rand Paul (09:32)

• On EPA’s regulatory rollback:
  “If Congress wants it [EPA] to regulate greenhouse gases, then they need to pass a law that does that specifically.” — Camila Domonosky (10:45)

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5. Timeline of Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|----------------------------------------------| | 00:02 | ICE operation aftermath in Minnesota | | 03:11 | Reporter Estelle Timar Wilcox joins | | 04:32 | Gov. Walz on community impact | | 05:15 | Community organizers share ongoing fears | | 06:31 | DHS funding standoff explained | | 06:54 | Sen. Chuck Schumer’s statement | | 09:32 | Sen. Rand Paul critiques ICE actions | | 10:14 | EPA drops emissions regulations | | 10:45 | Why EPA made the decision | | 12:42 | Auto industry and consumer implications |

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Summary

This Up First episode delivers a swift but in-depth look at three evolving news narratives:

• Minnesota faces trauma and disruption after a major ICE crackdown ends, with political leaders pressing for accountability and community recovery.
• Federal power struggles threaten certain DHS functions, while ICE remains untouched due to prior funding; congressional scrutiny intensifies on DHS use of force.
• The EPA’s decision to abandon its climate regulation authority shakes up environmental oversight and auto industry plans, with major legal and consumer ripples ahead.

Listeners come away with not just the headlines, but a sense of the political, legal, and human stakes at play in each story.

Transcript

[A]

Immigration agents are leaving Minnesota. They left us with deep damage, generational trauma. They left us with economic ruin. In some cases, the governor wants the.

[B]

Federal government to help pay for the damage.

[A]

I'm Steve Inskeep with Leila Fadel, and this is up first from NPR News. Funding for the Department of Homeland Security runs out tonight. The Senate could not get a spending bill passed because Democrats want concrete changes to ICE tactics.

[C]

Democrats will not support a blank check.

[A]

For chaos, which parts of the government are likely to shut down.

[B]

And the Environmental Protection Agency is abandoning regulations on greenhouse gases, including vehicle emissions. What could that mean for the auto industry and for drivers? Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

[C]

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[B]

Tom Homan announced on Thursday that the surge of federal agents in Minnesota is coming to an end.

[A]

So what comes after most of those agents leave, and who pays for the damage? The operation lasted more than two months and entirely aside from people without legal status who were detained, the government seized American citizens, disrupted businesses, triggered weeks of street protests and killed two Americans, each of them shot while on video.

[B]

Reporter Estelle Timar Wilcox of Minnesota Public Radio joins us now with more. Good morning, Estelle.

[F]

Good morning.

[B]

So why did Tom Homan say this surge is ending in Minnesota?

[F]

Well, Homan pretty much said mission accomplished. He said DHS agents have arrested more than 4,000 people. And he said cooperation from local elected officials and police has improved, including, Homan said, more access to undocumented inmates held at county jails here.

[A]

We have obtained an unprecedented level of coordination with law enforcement officials that is focused on promoting public safety across the entire state.

[F]

Homan said he's now confident that ICE can work more closely with local and state law enforcement, though he didn't point to any specific changes in policy or practices in the state.

[B]

So is that true? Have state and local leaders said they've changed anything when it comes to coordination with the federal government?

[F]

Well, the officials we've heard from say they've had productive talks with Homan, but several county sheriffs say they didn't change any enforcement policies. So we're yet to see if county jails really do start giving ICE that increased access. As Homan mentioned, Governor Tim Walls said the state isn't changing its policies either. He called on residents to remain vigilant in the coming days as immigration officers leave. And he called this crackdown an unconstitutional assault on our state and one that's negatively impacted nearly every sector of life in the Twin Cities.

[A]

They left us with deep damage, generational trauma. They left us with economic ruin. In some cases, they left us with many unanswered questions. Where are our children? Where and what is the process of the investigations into those that were responsible for the deaths of Renee and Alex?

[F]

Walls and other officials have repeatedly pressed for state investigators to join federal agents in their investigations into the killings of Renee Macklin Good and Alex Preddy. So far, they've been kept away.

[B]

So Walls mentions the damages this operation has caused for Minnesotans. What are Minnesotans and community organizers saying about all this?

[F]

Yeah, this surge operation has caused a lot of fear among immigrants, but also among citizens who are worried about aggression from ICE and particularly non white citizens who've been carrying their passports around just in case they're stopped on the streets. And advocates say that's a fear that's not just going to go away. And Ann Hill is the director of a community organization that's been delivering groceries to families who are struggling and still afraid to go out. Hill says she expects that need to continue.

[G]

It's hard to know how this is really going to unwind. Are families really going to trust that ICE is gone after all the lies that have come out of the government?

[F]

And while people stay home from work, lots of families have been relying on donations to pay rent. Organizers say that will continue, too. Governor Wall says he's asking the federal government and state legislature for emergency funding for recovery. On the state level, he said he'll propose a $10 million emergency fund for small businesses.

[B]

That's reporter Estelle Timar Wilcox of Minnesota Public Radio reporting from Minneapolis. Thank you so much, Estelle.

[F]

You're welcome.

[B]

Funding for the Department of Homeland Security expires at the end of the day.

[A]

The Senate failed on Thursday to advance a spending bill that would have funded DHS through the end of September. Democrats have vowed not to support any bill without major changes to immigration enforcement. Here's Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

[C]

Today's strong vote was a shot across.

[B]

The bow to Republicans.

[C]

Democrats will not support a blank check for chaos.

[B]

NPR congressional correspondent Barbara Sprunt joins us to talk through all this. Good morning, Barbara.

[E]

Good morning.

[B]

So is this one of those days where the clock is ticking down to a shutdown and then there's a last minute deal?

[E]

You know, I don't think so. This time both sides seem pretty far apart. Still, some Democratic demands do have bipartisan support, like requiring body cameras for officers. But there are other proposals that Republicans have pushed back on, like having officers remove their masks. So I think it's going to be a holding power pattern while both parties keep negotiating.

[B]

Okay, so a shutdown, though, doesn't mean there won't be money for ice, right?

[E]

That's right. A shutdown here does not mean a shutdown of ICE. And that's because the agency got over $70 billion in separate funds from Congress over the summer as part of Republicans massive spending and tax bill. So other agencies within the DHS will be affected by a shutdown like TSA and fema.

[B]

Now, we saw top officials from ICE and Customs and Border Protection testifying before the Senate yesterday. But Kristi Noem, the head of dhs, wasn't there, right?

[E]

That's right. And her absence was mentioned a few times. Several senators said they want her to testify before the Homeland Security Committee. She's actually set to testify before a different committee come March. And you might remember that almost immediately after officers shot and killed Alex Preddy. Noem described him as a domestic terrorist and she later said that she got that information from Border Patrol agents on the ground. But yesterday, CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott told the committee he never described Preddy as a terrorist, nor was he aware of anyone in his agency saying that. And he said he couldn't speculate as to why she would say that.

[B]

Interesting. So he's directly contradicting what Noem said. What else stood out to you in the hearing?

[E]

Well, we learned some important numbers. ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons said that there's been more than three dozen internal investigations into allegations of excessive use of force by its agents in the last year. Eighteen have been closed, nineteen pending, and one referred for further action, although he didn't say which incident that was. And another thing that stood out to me, you know, senators spent a lot of time trying to clarify the use of force policies, how officers are trained in de escalation. And Committee Chairman Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, played a of Preddy and officers. And he paused the video several times, stopping to show officers pushing a nearby woman to the ground, spraying Preddy in the face, surrounding him.

[A]

I see nothing here. I mean, not even a hint of something that was aggressive on his part. Everything was retreat. He's over in the street, he retreats, he retreats. The woman is pushed to the ground. He tries to assist the woman to get up. He's violently sprayed. And it just continues.

[E]

Now, the officials in response wouldn't give specifics about this. They said it's an ongoing investigation. They said the body camera footage would eventually be released. But Paul made a point of saying that ICE and CBP have to admit their mistakes in order to restore the public's trust.

[B]

That's NPR's Barbara Sprunt. Thank you, Barbara.

[E]

Thank you.

[B]

The Environmental Protection Agency says reducing greenhouse gases is none of its business.

[A]

This is a big deal. The EPA threw out the legal basis for its climate regulations, including rules for cars and trucks. For years up to now, the EPA has regulated planet warming emissions because climate change hurts human health, among other things.

[B]

NPR's Camilla Denominasky covers the auto industry and joins us now. Good morning, Camilla.

[G]

Good morning, Layla.

[B]

So start with laying out what exactly the administration has done here.

[G]

They have rescinded the endangerment finding, which is this sort of bureaucratic but very important document from 2009. And it says, look, scientists know that climate change endangers human health. There's overwhelming consensus on that. And therefore, the EPA should regulate greenhouse gas emissions as part of its job, the same way that it regulates smog. And now the EPA has undone that saying instead that if Congress wants it to regulate greenhouse gases, then they need to pass a law that does that specifically, which is not very likely right now. So greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and trucks are now gone. We should be clear that this is going to spark a giant legal battle which will probably eventually go to the Supreme Court.

[B]

So what does this mean for drivers?

[G]

Well, more specifically for people buying new cars.

[E]

Right.

[G]

One change that President Trump highlighted in particular, this removes the regulatory incentive for the start stop feature a lot of new cars have that turns engines off when you're stopped at a red light. More fundamentally, this will mean fewer EVs and hybrids on dealer lots. In the near term, companies are not going to be under the same pressure to make cleaner vehicles that they were under strict Biden era EPA emissions rules. For carmakers, this doesn't necessarily change their long term plans because one, they know that regulations could change again under a different administration. Right. And globally, you know, they sell cars worldwide. Other countries still have emissions rules. They also have to compete with Chinese EVs. And a lot of executives still say that EVs are the future, but in the near term, they can sell as many big gas and diesel trucks and SUVs as they want with no penalty. I Trump also says that this will save Americans a lot of money. EVs are expensive, but third party analyses say that this change will actually cost drivers because we will collectively buy more gasoline.

[B]

Did the auto industry want these rules eliminated?

[G]

Well, big cars and trucks are very profitable. So rolling back these rules is a boost to bottom lines. It's actually partially offsetting the billions of dollars that companies are paying in tariffs. And, and a lot of companies had been warning that these Biden era rules were simply not realistic, that EV sales in the US Were not growing fast enough, even with incentives in place to meet those targets. So the traditional automakers wanted easier rules for sure, but eliminating the regulations entirely, arguing that the EPA doesn't even have the right to regulate them, that is farther than the industry wanted to go. And that's because a huge legal battle means a ton of uncertainty and companies would really prefer some stability in these regulations. Although that's starting to seem like wishful thinking at this point.

[B]

NPR's Camila Domonosky. Thank you, Camila.

[D]

Thank you.

[B]

Don't forget to follow up first on your podcast app. That way you'll get the coverage of the news you need to start your day delivered directly to you. And that's up first for Friday, February 13th. I'm Layla Falden.

[A]

And I'm Steve Inskeep. For our Olympics coverage, checkout Up First Winter Games, which is a video podcast from NPR News. New episodes drop throughout the Games every [e-mail] NPR, which is to say the NPR channel on YouTube.

[B]

Today's episode of Up first was edited by Eric Westervelt, Jason Breslow, Kara Platoni, Mohamed Alvaradisi and Alice Wolfley. It was produced by Ziad Buch and Nia Dumas. Our director is Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Nisha Hyness. Our technical director is Carly Strange, and our executive producer is Jay Shaler. Join us again tomorrow.

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