How the 9/11 terrorist attacks shaped ICE’s immigration strategy

The growth of today’s aggressive immigration tactics traces back 25 years, when enforcement took on the dimension of counterterrorism.

By: Pawan Dhingra, Amherst College, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: February 12, 2026

Words: 1,011

Last Updated: 1 month ago

By Pawan Dhingra, Amherst College

Stephen Miller’s January 2026 announcement to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers – telling them that they have “immunity to perform your duties” and that no “illegal alien, no leftist agitator or domestic insurrectionist” can stop them – may seem like an extreme statement outside the political mainstream.

And when ICE agents use facial recognition software to monitor immigrants and protesters, that might seem like an unacceptable invasion of …

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