Social Media Users Rediscover CNN Segment on ICE from Obama Era
Recently, social media users have brought attention to a CNN segment from the Obama administration regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). They suggest it highlights a difference in how the agency was portrayed before Donald Trump took office.
This particular segment aired on May 31, 2016, featuring CNN reporter Pamela Brown who joined a team of ICE agents in Chicago while they arrested an undocumented felon.
“Just as the sun rises over the Windy City, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents fan out across Chicago to arrest American criminals illegally. CNN was granted exclusive access to witness some of those raids,” Brown said at the start of the segment titled “A Day with ICE in Chicago’s ‘Sanctuary City.'”
ICE officers discussed tackling “three targets” in a “somewhat dangerous” area, with the operation kick-starting at 3 a.m. to catch these targets before they began their workdays. One officer mentioned the surge of adrenaline and increased blood pressure that comes with such operations.
Viewers learned that the investigation was to be conducted discreetly. However, confusion ensued when an ICE agent mistakenly arrested the target’s brother instead. Eventually, they apprehended the correct individual, and a graphic was shown reflecting ICE’s opposition to the Cook County Sanctuary Cities Act, which limits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.
“ICE says the county ordinance poses a danger to the community by putting illegal offenders back on the streets,” the segment conveyed.
Following this, ICE proceeded to capture its second target, who had previously been deported and returned to the U.S. using a false name. Brown informed viewers that ICE had been monitoring this individual for some time.
The report went on to detail the arrest of a third target, described by an ICE agent as having “an extensive criminal history.” This agent explained that removing such individuals contributes to community safety.
During the operation, one man attempted to escape but was found not to be a target and was released. Brown then provided a look inside an ICE processing facility, where she spoke to a man facing deportation.
The segment concluded with a graphic stating, “On this day, ICE detained six people for possible deportation. Two of them were released because they had no criminal history.”
A social media user pointed out that at that time, CNN didn’t appear to criticize ICE. Since then, CNN has gone through multiple ownership and management changes, but some conservative voices argue this segment reflects a more favorable media portrayal of ICE under the Obama administration compared to the criticisms faced during Trump’s presidency.
ICE has been in the spotlight following the recent shooting death of officer Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, an incident during which authorities reported she was putting her car in harm’s way against the agency.
As discussions continue online, opinions vary on the differences in media tone regarding ICE, with some observers noting not only the shift in portrayal but also changes in how ICE agents presented themselves over the years. CNN had not provided a comment at the time of the report.
