CNN’s latest panel debate on immigration quickly turned chaotic, as host Abby Phillip suggested U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) went too far during a recent detention. Her framing set the stage for a fiery exchange that highlighted CNN’s increasingly controversial stance on border enforcement.

Writer Batya Ungar-Sargon immediately pushed back, clarifying that ICE raids pose no threat to ordinary American citizens, noting that enforcement operations are designed to target individuals who have entered the country illegally or violated immigration law. She stressed that the narrative being pushed by CNN distorts the reality of ICE’s mission.

But before her point could fully land, journalist Terry Moran jumped in, claiming the raids represented something darker — an effort by authorities to “intimidate” those who oppose them. His framing echoed a common talking point from the progressive left, suggesting law enforcement agencies are weaponized against dissent rather than acting in the interest of public safety.

The clash exposed the deep divide not just between media commentators, but within CNN’s own coverage, which has often been criticized for leaning into activism rather than journalism. To critics, Phillip’s initial question and Moran’s response demonstrated how CNN frequently paints ICE as the aggressor while downplaying the very real consequences of unchecked illegal immigration.

The broader debate comes as immigration continues to be one of the most pressing issues in America. President Trump has made border security and strict enforcement cornerstones of his administration, with ICE playing a central role in those policies. Supporters argue that agencies like ICE are essential for upholding the rule of law and keeping communities safe from criminal activity tied to illegal border crossings.

Yet CNN’s exchange highlighted how major outlets are often more interested in portraying enforcement as excessive rather than acknowledging the strain illegal immigration puts on schools, hospitals, and communities. The framing from Phillip and Moran fed into that narrative, while Ungar-Sargon’s defense of ICE stood out as a rare counterpoint on the network.

The clip, which circulated widely online, drew sharp criticism from conservatives who accused CNN of once again undermining America’s immigration laws for the sake of partisan theater. Many noted that while ICE operations can look dramatic, they target individuals already found to be in violation of the law — and that presenting such actions as intimidation tactics only emboldens those seeking to bypass America’s legal system.

In the end, the segment did little to clarify the facts but much to underscore CNN’s credibility problem. By framing immigration enforcement as something sinister while sidelining the argument for law and order, the network once again handed its critics an easy talking point.

For a channel already accused of bias and declining trust among viewers, the exchange was another reminder of how CNN struggles to present balanced coverage when it comes to one of the nation’s most urgent debates. Instead of highlighting solutions or facts, the conversation devolved into a shouting match — one that perfectly illustrates why critics say CNN simply can’t stop posting L’s.