In a fiery segment on MSNBC's Morning Joe, host Joe Scarborough launched a scathing critique of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), condemning the physical fitness of its agents and what he described as dangerously abbreviated training programmes.
A Tirade Triggered by Tragedy
Scarborough's remarks followed the fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis. Good was shot in the head by ICE agent Jonathan Ross as she attempted to flee in her car while surrounded by officers with drawn weapons. The host connected this incident directly to systemic failures within the agency.
He pointed to what he called a profound irony, noting that just months earlier, the Secretary of Defence had publicly railed against overweight military personnel. 'How ironic that we see all these fat, out of shape people that they push through,' Scarborough stated. He blamed shortened training sessions, claiming they leave agents 'ill-equipped' for complex urban policing.
Systemic Failures and Plummeting Public Trust
Scarborough argued that ICE agents lack the specific training for engagement within American cities, unlike established local police forces such as the NYPD or LAPD. He attributed this deficiency to the 'tragedy unfolding on the streets,' adding, 'We all predicted this was going to happen.'
The host further linked these operational issues to a dramatic collapse in public support. He stated that former President Donald Trump's approval ratings on immigration are 'plummeting' due to ICE's actions and the leadership of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Polling data appears to support this claim.
According to a YouGov poll conducted on January 7, the day of Good's shooting, 52% of American adults disapproved of ICE, with only 39% expressing approval. This marks a significant thirty-point drop from the agency's approval rating in February 2025.
Guests Decry 'Paramilitary Squads'
Atlantic staff writer Franklin Foer, a guest on the show, amplified the criticism, describing ICE teams as 'paramilitary squads being parachuted into cities where they're not welcome.' He criticised their use of face coverings and unmarked vehicles, suggesting these tactics are 'designed to induce the sort of confrontations' seen in Minneapolis.
Co-host Mika Brzezinski joined the condemnation, focusing on the shooting incident itself. She asserted that Agent Ross repeatedly broke protocol by walking in front of Good's vehicle and by 'fumbling with his phone and a weapon' before firing. Department of Homeland Security policy stipulates deadly force is only justified against an imminent threat and not solely to prevent escape.
However, a key detail complicates the narrative linking the shooting directly to rushed training: Jonathan Ross has been an ICE agent since 2015 and was not part of any recent hiring surge. The debate on Morning Joe nonetheless underscores a deepening crisis of confidence in an agency operating under intense national scrutiny.
