What A Day — “ICE Polices The American Dream”

Date: December 12, 2025
Host: Jane Coaston
Guest: Aaron Raichlen Melnick, Senior Fellow at the American Immigration Council

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the state of immigration enforcement and policy under the Trump administration, focusing on recent escalations in ICE operations, administrative changes after a tragic shooting, and public responses to increasingly aggressive tactics. Jane Coaston, with guest Aaron Raichlen Melnick, explores the real-life impacts of these policies, the administration's political strategy, and what may come next for immigrants and advocates heading into 2026.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia and Judicial Pushback

• [00:02 – 01:14]
  • A federal judge orders the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, wrongfully deported to an El Salvadoran "super prison" due to lack of proper removal order.
    • Quote (Judge’s ruling via Camillo Montoya Galvez):

      "Because respondents... have no statutory authority to remove Abrego Garcia to a third country absent a removal order... his removal cannot be considered reasonably foreseeable, imminent, or consistent with due process." [00:54]

  • Coaston frames Garcia's ordeal as emblematic of current ICE practices—marked by “cruelty and incompetence.”

2. Deportation of Veterans & DHS Secretary's Congressional Testimony

• [01:14 – 02:29]
  • Coaston highlights the deportation of a Purple Heart recipient, Mr. Park, to South Korea—despite the Secretary of Homeland Security’s denial that veterans are being deported.
    • Memorable Exchange:
      • Aaron Raichlen Melnick (quoting Rep. Seth Magaziner):

        “He has sacrificed more for this country than most people ever have... Will you join me in thanking Mr. Park for his service?” [01:57]

      • DHS Secretary Kristi Noem:

        “I'm grateful for every single person that has served our country and follows our laws.” [02:13]

    • Noem leaves the hearing to attend a meeting that turns out to be canceled, further underscoring administrative evasion.

3. Public Opposition to Immigration Policy

• [02:29 – 03:10]
  • Polling shows 60% of Americans now oppose Trump’s handling of immigration; public fear, not popularity, drives much of the agenda.
    • Jane Coaston:

      “Weirdly enough, that's proving to not be very popular.” [02:30]

4. Recent Executive Changes to Immigration & Asylum Processing

• [03:10 – 05:21]
  • Aaron Raichlen Melnick explains:
    • New policies suspended entire categories of immigration benefits (asylum, work permits, green cards, citizenship) especially from those coming from 19 countries included in Trump’s travel ban.
    • Dual nationals (e.g. Canadian/Iranian) are caught up, with people being “pulled out” of naturalization ceremonies.
      • Quote:

        “You've seen people literally pulled out of their citizenship oath ceremony inches from the finish line... not because of anything they did, but solely because of where they were born.” [04:39]

5. ICE’s Tactics, Operations, and Manpower

• [05:21 – 07:49]
  • ICE is active everywhere in the country, conducting “splashy blitzes” meant for propaganda and day-to-day arrests.
  • Despite record funding ($45B for detention, $30B for enforcement), ICE lacks capacity—due partially to Secretary Noem signing off on every major purchase, slowing expansion.
    • Aaron Raichlen Melnick:

      “$45 billion for detention and $30 billion for enforcement... It just takes time to spend it all.” [07:16]

6. Effectiveness, Public Sentiment, and Internal Tensions

• [07:49 – 10:52]
  • The administration touts its crackdown but faces dissent both from hardliners (“not doing enough”) and average Americans (“not what I voted for”).
  • Key Insight: The aggressive policies have transformed the system—favoring rapid, fear-driven deportation over due process.
    • ICE officers pressure detainees to “give up” and accept deportation with offers of $1,000 or the threat of indefinite detention.
      • Quote:

        “Efficient not at providing due process... but efficient at getting people to simply give up and agree to be deported.” [08:26]

  • Arrests of “non-criminal” undocumented immigrants now dominate, after Stephen Miller’s directive to arrest “illegals” indiscriminately.
    • Notable Data: Since the late May shift, 2/3 of recent ICE detainees have no criminal convictions.

7. Outlook for 2026: Tent Camps and Mass Detentions

• [10:52 – 11:49]
  • Administration aims to vastly expand tent detention camps on military bases, with abuse and rights violations reported (notably at a new El Paso facility).
  • Plans in motion for dozens more such camps nationwide; bottlenecks exist mainly in contracting and hiring.
    • Aaron Raichlen Melnick:

      “That’s the new way forward. And they have the money to do it.” [11:31]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Administrative Cruelty & Incompetence

  • Jane Coaston:

    “Cruelty and incompetence, both at their absolute worst.” [01:14]

• On Public Perception

  • Jane Coaston:

    “Apparently some people didn’t think [mass deportation] meant that literally.” [09:49]

• On ICE’s Operational Shift

  • Aaron Raichlen Melnick:

    “The lowest hanging fruit are people with no criminal convictions. New data... shows... almost two thirds of all people arrested by ICE... have had no criminal record at all.” [10:27]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------------|------------| | Garcia case, judicial smackdown | 00:02–01:14| | Deportation of veteran & House hearing | 01:14–02:29| | Public opinion on Trump’s immigration policies | 02:29–03:10| | Major executive changes to asylum, citizenship, etc. | 03:10–05:21| | Where & how ICE is conducting operations | 05:21–07:49| | Systemic impacts, public sentiment, and strategy | 07:49–10:52| | Looking forward: tent camps, mass detention plans | 10:52–11:49| | Wrap-up & sign-off | 11:49–11:55 |

Additional Headlines (Non-Immigration)

• Healthcare:

  • Senate fails to extend Obamacare subsidies, affecting 20+ million Americans.
    • Sen. Chuck Schumer:

      “Senate Republicans just shoved the American people off the side of a cliff with no parachute and with an anchor tied to their feet.” [16:01]

• GOP Redistricting:

  • Indiana’s Republican Senate rebuffs a Trump-driven congressional map.

• Public Lands:

  • Conservation lawsuit to prevent Trump’s face from being on 2026 National Parks pass.

• AI & Disney:

  • Disney partners with OpenAI, raising concerns about job loss and child safety.

Summary

In this episode, Jane Coaston leads a critical, often sardonic discussion on the realities of immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. Featuring expert insight from Aaron Raichlen Melnick, the episode breaks down the administration’s punitive priorities, describes rapidly escalating (and at times chaotic) ICE operations, and spotlights the very real human costs—alongside the public’s mounting opposition. As plans for tent cities and mass detentions accelerate toward 2026, the show leaves listeners with a striking portrait of an immigration system at a crossroads—militarized, expensive, and under heavy scrutiny both in courtrooms and the court of public opinion.