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.

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)

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.

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.

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)

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 |

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.