A high-ranking official from the Department of Homeland Security has responded to Joe Rogan’s comments regarding protesters who compared ICE to the Gestapo during the unrest in Minneapolis following the shooting of Renee Nicole Good.
On his podcast, Rogan shared his understanding of critics who see the actions of federal immigration agents as reminiscent of the Nazi secret police. He expressed concern about the presence of heavily armed agents on the streets, claiming that many people captured in these operations turn out to be undocumented American citizens.
He questioned, “Are we really going to become the Gestapo? Where are the documents? Is that what we’ve come to?” He acknowledged the conservative perspective that argues for aggressive ICE raids to address issues related to illegal immigration but suggested that the situation is anything but simple.
Tricia McLaughlin, the DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, fired back at Rogan’s remarks the following day. She stated, “If Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey in Minneapolis want to confine us, we don’t have to be there.”
McLaughlin elaborated that there were currently around 680 undocumented individuals—including serious criminals—whom they aim to remove from the streets. “These are the people we’re targeting. We need to be on the ground because we lack support from local enforcement,” she added.
This debate arose amid discussions on Good’s tragic death when she was shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on January 7 while attempting to evade capture. The Trump administration defended Ross’s actions, claiming he acted in self-defense against Good, who allegedly used her vehicle as a weapon.
Rogan commented on the incident, saying that while he didn’t know what the agent was thinking, it seemed frightening. He noted, “She appeared erratic from the beginning. But does that justify shooting her? Isn’t there another way to handle this?”
Good’s death initiated widespread protests and violent confrontations between activists and immigration officials, leading DHS to deploy thousands of extra personnel to Minneapolis. Recently, around 2,000 immigration officers were sent to support Operation Metro Surge, marking the largest mobilization in the area’s history, with hundreds arrested thus far. Furthermore, CNN reported that an additional 1,000 immigration agents are set to join the operations.
