Comedian and podcast host Joe Rogan expressed that “ICE is the bad guy” following the shooting of 37-year-old activist Renee Good in Minneapolis. He questioned, “Are we really going to become the Gestapo?”
In a discussion with Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on his podcast, Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan commented, “Since that woman was shot—it’s all unfortunate—one major issue is that ICE is now perceived as the villain.”
He further elaborated, stating, “Currently, people view them as murderers or soldiers patrolling our streets.” He noted the problem with ICE officers wearing masks, pointing out that unlike police officers, whom one can question, “If you’re arrested by an ICE officer, you have no rights.” They are anonymous and don’t have to provide any information.
Rogan recounted an incident involving a former UPS employee who wore his uniform to gain access to a home in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, ultimately leading to three deaths. “If someone can impersonate a UPS driver, they could just as easily impersonate an ICE agent,” he remarked.
He questioned the ease of faking an ICE logo, suggesting it might enable armed groups to pose as ICE agents and rob individuals.
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However, Rogan’s conjecture is based on an anecdote that doesn’t support a broader trend. While stories can highlight a point, they don’t serve as conclusive evidence. If applied to police officers, one would need to reference more substantiated cases of impersonation, which have, albeit rarely, occurred.
His argument, while seemingly straightforward, does not detract from ICE’s role or the anonymity it may possess, as all uniformed authorities are at risk of being impersonated.
Senator Paul responded by suggesting that cartels could exploit the situation along the border. He noted that the argument becomes more complicated when discussing ICE agents not based on the U.S. border.
Commenting on the shooting, Rogan expressed, “It’s disturbing to see an American citizen, especially a woman, shot in the face.” He also mentioned that the ICE officer involved “almost got run over,” labeling the scene as horrifying. Nonetheless, he acknowledged that Good appeared to be in a troubled state of mind, wondering, “Did she move there specifically for this?”
He said, “I get why some people feel we shouldn’t have militarized individuals on our streets, arresting people without reason,” even comparing ICE to the Gestapo. “Are we really going to become the Gestapo? Where are the documents? Is this the point we’ve reached?” Rogan asked.
Minnesota’s Democratic Governor, Tim Walz, echoed similar sentiments, accusing ICE agents of behaving like “Trump’s modern-day Gestapo.”
