CNN is facing criticism over the vast difference between how it covered immigration enforcement in 2016 versus how it covers it today.
The criticism centers on a CNN segment that aired on May 31, 2016. In the segment, reporter Pamela Brown went on a ride-along with several U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Chicago.
“Just before the sun rises in the Windy City, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents fan out across Chicago to arrest criminals in the U.S. illegally,” Brown announced as the segment began. “CNN was granted exclusive access to witness some of those raids.”
May, 2016. CNN does a segment entitled “A Day with ICE in a so-called Sanctuary City.”
CNN literally rode around with ICE from the break of dawn until nighttime, watching while ICE conducted raids and arrested illegals. ICE arrested some right at their jobs.
CNN was not… pic.twitter.com/FfVXtyCiUn
— Michael (@Michael951413) January 15, 2026
The segment continued with an ICE agent telling his colleagues that he’d located “three targets” in the area that seemed a “little sketchy” and that they were going to go in for a raid.
Then, during the raid, the ICE agents made a major mistake.
“This may look organized, but in this moment, confusion. ICE agents mistakenly arrest the target’s brother,” Brown reported.
Thankfully, the correct targets were eventually arrested. CNN, meanwhile, noted that the agents disagreed with local Chicago-area politicians who supported banning cooperation between ICE and local police.
“ICE says the county ordinance creates a danger to the community by releasing undocumented criminals back onto the streets,” CNN reported without any unnecessary added commentary.
Critics have taken issue with the segment because of the pro-ICE way that CNN reported on ICE.
For instance, Brown rightly referred to the illegal aliens being sought by ICE as “fugitives” and “criminal aliens.” Brown also gave the ICE agents credit for their professionalism in the face of such danger.
“CNN was not criticizing ICE,” one critic noted. “They were celebrating ICE. It was ‘exclusive access’ during the Obama years, and CNN considered it a privilege to get to watch ICE work.”
“This proves the outrage is completely manufactured and the legacy media are nothing but political operatives,” another critic argued. “When their guy is in charge, deportations are ‘law and order’ worthy of exclusive, celebratory ride-alongs.”
“When a Republican does the exact same thing, it’s suddenly branded as ‘fascism.’ They don’t actually care about the migrants or the policy—they only care about weaponizing the narrative to protect their power. The hypocrisy isn’t an accident; it’s the entire business model,” the critic added.
See more critiques below (*Language warning):
Thanks for posting this. I’d rather be stung by 20 wasps in the face than watch CNN.
— Diplomat of Freedom (@MhaMitchell) January 14, 2026
Expect nothing requiring integrity or honesty from @CNN – then you won’t be disappointed.
— BeeLady🐝 (@miamivandynyu) January 14, 2026
Obama deported millions of illegals, but ICE only became a problem when Trump took office? Hypocrites!
— Mister Sugar (@ScottWi92107364) January 15, 2026
This is like when Dems were going after Romney for having his dog on top of his car for family vacations, and then we found out Obama actually ATE dog
— IowaGma1 (@Gma1Iowa) January 14, 2026
These “people” who have lied to the American public for decades should be tried for treason. If I said what I really thought about these “news people” I would be suspended. You truly cannot hate these fucking demons enough.
— Toby-san (@Tobysan930833) January 14, 2026
Some defenders of CNN pushed back by noting that the ICE agents of 2016 were unmasked, whereas the ICE agents of 2026 are completely covered up.
But critics quickly fired back by noting that, unlike now, back in 2016, there weren’t mobs of crazed leftists across the country trying to assault and damn near kill ICE agents.
They also didn’t have left wing unhinged agitators trying to dox them and threaten them. Dude you still have a mask on your PP in 2026, we all know you have a mental illness.
— uni-party sucks (@arguewithdummys) January 14, 2026
And unlike now, CNN in 2016 didn’t have CNN talking heads claiming “people in America are okay with somebody throwing a rock” at ICE agents.
Speaking of rocks, check out this recent CNN segment:
.@CNN is once again demonizing our immigration officials.
Rioters HIT Chief Bovino in the head with a rock, which could have killed him — but of course CNN left out that part of the story. pic.twitter.com/tqatoedtj7
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 24, 2025
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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