ICE Pretends It’s a Military Force. Its Tactics Would Get Real Soldiers Killed
War is said, is a continuation of politics by other means. State-sponsored violence can also be part of the continuity of a policy. Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff for policy, has repeatedly urged ICE agents to step up their tactics and increase arrests, and he has informed agents that they have “federal immunity.” Since that last remark in October 2025, ICE’s tactics have become much more violent. But historically speaking, host countries – and in this case we’re talking California, Illinois, Oregon, Minnesota and Maine, I guess – just don’t appreciate long-term abusive behavior.
If the political ends of these tactics are not to sow deep distrust, confusion, doubt, anger and division, they then seem misdirected and misapplied. Tactics disconnected from strategy ultimately result in strategic failure. In this case, ICE’s tactics would endanger the Republican majority in Congress and control of the White House.
Ultimately, no matter how hard ICE tries to project its militant image, it remains a branch of civilian authority, not the military. This is not about fighting America’s enemies. It is essential that we remember this and resist the normalization of military-style tactics on our streets.
