The Vice President sounded much less confrontational, saying that officers have a tough job, but will investigate and discipline agents if justified.
By Catholics for Catholics
In a more conciliatory tone than the last few weeks since tensions have risen between Immigration and Custom Enforcement officers and protestors in Minnesota, Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that the Trump administration will discipline ICE agents “when justified.”
Vance referred to possible mistakes made during deportation operations, taking a more restrained manner after he and other senior officials recently suggested agents have “absolute immunity” while enforcing federal law, according to Newsmax.
“Well, first of all, you’re never going to eliminate, entirely, mistakes,” Vance said in an interview to the Washington Examiner, aboard Air Force Two, from Toledo to Minneapolis. “You’re talking about human beings. It’s going to happen at the local level. It’s going to happen at the federal level, you know?”
Vance contended that accountability and support for law enforcement can live together.
“That’s not to say that we’re — you can acknowledge that mistakes sometimes happen while also acknowledging that 99% of our ICE officers are doing the right thing. They’re doing a very tough job in Minneapolis. They’re doing a tough job in incredibly difficult circumstances. I would say the same of police officers,” Vance said.
VP VANCE: “The reason why things have gotten so out of hand is because of failure of cooperation between the state and local authorities and what these guys are trying to do.”
— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 22, 2026
“We have a ton of resources, a ton of ICE agents in this city right now that I would rather us not… pic.twitter.com/F216cTBbKW
When asked about consequences for misconduct, including excessive force or mistaken arrests of U.S. citizens, Vance said complaints are probed and discipline can happen.
“Certainly, when we have any accusation of wrongdoing, we investigate, we look into it,” he said. “If we think that there are disciplinary actions justified, then, of course, we’re going to take those disciplinary actions.”
Vance also said the administration is looking to lessen errors while supporting agents he says are acting correctly.
“You can do both of those things at the same time,” he said. “I also think that what we’re trying to do is actually make it easier for these guys to do their job.”
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