The use of force has become a 'default tool' for ICE officers, a new report finds
A new ACLU report indicates that the use of force has become a standard practice for ICE officers during immigration enforcement operations. The findings follow recent high-profile incidents and raise concerns about transparency and accountability within the Department of Homeland Security.
Why it matters
The report challenges the operational conduct of federal immigration agencies and highlights ongoing tensions regarding civil rights and government oversight.
In the aftermath of two killings by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in just over a week, a new report from the American Civil Liberties Union documents widespread use of force by the federal agency.
The report, released Thursday, looks at more than 1,200 immigration enforcement operations involving ICE officers or law enforcement working with ICE across eight states, beginning when President Trump took office in January 2025 until the end of last year.
The findings underscore the concerns many immigrant advocates have raised repeatedly as the Trump administration continues its aggressive deportation campaign: Forceful, and even violent, immigration encounters are not rare. In fact, nearly a third of the incidents included in the research involved the use of force or the threat of force.
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