Trump Says ICE To Be Held Accountable?
Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that the Trump administration will take disciplinary action against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers when warranted, while continuing to firmly support agents enforcing federal immigration law.
Vance shared his views in a Washington Examiner interview conducted on Air Force Two while he was en route from Ohio to Minnesota, where immigration enforcement activity in Minneapolis has drawn intense political focus.
According to Vance, mistakes are an unavoidable reality in any large-scale law enforcement effort.
“When you’re dealing with human beings, errors will happen,” Vance said. “That’s true at the local level and the federal level. No system is perfect.”
However, he cautioned against using isolated incidents to broadly condemn federal officers, emphasizing that accountability and support can exist at the same time.
“You can acknowledge that mistakes occur while also recognizing that the vast majority of ICE officers are doing their jobs correctly,” Vance said. “They’re operating under intense pressure and difficult conditions. That’s true for ICE and for police officers nationwide.”
When asked whether officers could face consequences for misconduct — including excessive force or mistaken detentions — Vance said all allegations are reviewed through established procedures.
“When accusations arise, they are investigated,” he said. “If disciplinary action is justified, then appropriate steps are taken.”
Vance also stressed that the administration’s priority is improving enforcement efficiency while minimizing errors, not undermining agents in the field.
“Our goal is to reduce mistakes while making it easier for officers to do their jobs properly,” he said. “Those objectives are not in conflict.”
Earlier Thursday, Vance addressed immigration enforcement during remarks in Ohio, again acknowledging that errors can occur but placing responsibility on local officials who, he said, are obstructing federal operations.
“The issue isn’t ICE enforcing the law,” Vance said. “The issue is local authorities working to block ICE from carrying out its lawful responsibilities.”
The vice president’s comments represented a more measured tone compared to earlier statements made this month following a fatal incident during an ICE operation in Minneapolis. At the time, Vance criticized political activists for escalating tensions around federal law enforcement.
President Donald Trump has also acknowledged that enforcing immigration law at scale can result in occasional errors, while maintaining that strong enforcement remains essential.
“When you’re enforcing the law, mistakes can happen,” Trump said recently. “That doesn’t change the fact that ICE plays a critical role in protecting the country.”
The administration continues to advance an aggressive deportation and border enforcement agenda, even as it faces increased legal challenges and political scrutiny tied to immigration raids, detentions, and the scope of federal authority.
