Former Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Ken Cuccinelli told NewsNation host Cuomo on Thursday that early Trump administration immigration actions focused on media attention under Secretary Noem failed to achieve good results and should not have occurred.

He granted that coverage of ICE often treats the agency unfairly. Cuccinelli said officers work best when they maintain stronger ties to local areas, and much of that connection has returned during Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s time without heavy news coverage of ICE ERO agents.

That daily work stays difficult even under ordinary conditions, and extra political heat raises risks for the officers and others involved.