☕ Your ICE questions, answered

Good morning,

As pressure builds on the Trump administration to shift its tone on immigration after the killing of two U.S. citizens by ICE agents in Minneapolis, we’re going to take a look at some of the most frequently asked questions about the federal agency.

I’ve got 30 seconds

Some headlines from this morning:

• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a childhood vaccine schedule on Monday that contradicts the federal government's guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention late last year. The AAP's schedule recommends vaccines for 18 diseases, compared to 11 in the CDC's revised version released after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became Secretary of Health and Human Services. The CDC said its changes reflect "a consensus among peer nations," while an AAP spokesperson emphasized the need for "a stable, trusted, evidence-based immunization schedule." Kennedy has previously promoted anti-vaccine views before joining the Trump administration.

• Six people died after a private jet crashed and caught fire during a winter storm in Maine on Sunday. The Bombardier Challenger 600 flipped upside down about 45 seconds after takeoff from Bangor International Airport around 7:45pm, according to air traffic control recordings. The National Transportation Safety Board said it's investigating whether ice buildup on the wings caused the crash, noting this model has experienced similar issues before.

• Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Monday he has no plans to pursue a free trade deal with China, despite warming relations between the two countries. President Trump responded on Truth Social by claiming "China is successfully and completely taking over the once Great Country of Canada," and threatened 100% tariffs if a deal is signed. Carney has been rebuilding Canada's relationship with China after Trump imposed tariffs and repeatedly suggested making Canada the 51st U.S. state. Recent agreements between Canada and China have only reduced tariffs in specific sectors.

• Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter called for fans to boycott World Cup matches hosted in the U.S., citing Trump administration policies. In a post to X on Monday, Blatter endorsed comments from Swiss attorney Mark Pieth, who warned that fans who "don't please the officials" could be "put straight on the next flight home." Blatter wrote: "I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup." The U.S. will co-host the tournament with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

I’ve got 1 minute

A deadly winter storm has killed at least 34 people as it brought record cold and historic snowfall across the country.

The storm blanketed over 1,200 miles with more than a foot of snow and sent temperatures plummeting to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas. More than 200 million people remain under cold alerts. Here's what you need to know.

The storm

The storm system moved across the country from Texas to New England over the weekend. It caused widespread power outages, grounded thousands of flights, and forced the closure of roads and schools.

More than one million people have lost power, and over 10,500 flights were canceled on Sunday alone. Federal emergency disaster relief has been approved in over 12 states.

Thirty dead and expected to rise.

At least 34 deaths have been linked to freezing conditions. Some people died from hypothermia after being found outside. Others were killed in snow-related accidents. Among the dead are eight people found outside in New York City, a Massachusetts woman hit by a snowplow, a 17-year-old boy killed in a sledding accident in Arkansas, and a Kansas woman found covered in snow.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mandami urged residents to stay inside. "While we do not yet know the causes of death, there is no more powerful reminder of the dangers of the extreme cold," he said.

The U.S. to stay frozen

The National Weather Service warned Monday that "frigid air" will move across the eastern two-thirds of the country in coming days. It said to expect "widespread sub-zero lows and record cold."

The agency warned that dangerous wind chills will linger and "much below-normal temperatures may continue into early February." Federal authorities have called the storm "historic," with the National Weather Service warning of "crippling to locally catastrophic impacts."

I’ve got 2 minutes

This month, ICE agents shot and killed two people in Minneapolis - on 7 January, agents shot 37-year-old mother Renée Good, and last weekend, an agent shot 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti at a hospital. The deaths have led to protests in multiple U.S. cities and renewed scrutiny of ICE operations under President Trump.

Let’s look at some of the most common questions around the federal agency.

What is ICE?

ICE is a federal agency formed in 2003 as part of the response to the September 11 terrorist attacks. The agency enforces laws relating to immigration, border control, customs, and trade.

ICE operations have surged since Trump returned to office in January 2025. The President ordered agents to increase arrests to 3,000 people per day, up from a few hundred under the Biden administration. U.S. officials claim ICE has deported more than 675,000 people in the year since. In the year to September 2024, ICE arrested 113,431 people suspected of breaking immigration laws.

Do ICE agents need a warrant to make arrests

FAQs

Do ICE agents need a warrant to make arrests?

No, ICE agents do not need a court-issued warrant to make public arrests. Officers have the power to stop, question, and arrest someone they believe has violated immigration laws.

Do ICE agents need a warrant to enter homes?

Traditionally, ICE needed court-issued warrants to enter private property. However, a leaked ICE memo from May 2025 authorizes agents to enter homes with only administrative warrants not signed by judges.

Are ICE agents required to explain an arrest or show a warrant?

No, agents are not required to show warrants or explain arrests to people not directly involved in operations.

Is it legal for ICE agents to wear face coverings?

Yes, federal agents are permitted to wear face masks during operations. ICE says officers cover their faces to protect their privacy. All agents carry official badges and are expected to identify themselves "when required for public safety or legal necessity."

What’s next?

The Trump administration has begun making concessions on ICE's presence in Minnesota. President Trump said he had a "very good call" with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on Monday. "We, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength," he wrote on Truth Social.

Walz's office called the conversation "productive" and said Trump agreed to consider reducing the number of ICE agents in the state.

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