Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Jan 17: Federal immigration officers in the United States have shot at least 11 people since September as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intensified deportation and enforcement operations across the country, raising serious concerns among policing experts over the use of force, particularly shootings involving moving vehicles.
According to reports, in a majority of the incidents, officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) fired at cars, a tactic law enforcement agencies have sought to curb for decades due to the high risk of unnecessary injury or death. The shootings have occurred amid an expanded deployment of DHS personnel into communities, where officers have been seen clashing with undocumented immigrants as well as citizens protesting immigration arrests.
Policing experts have warned that the incidents point to a troubling pattern. Jim Bueermann, former police chief of Redlands, California, said the shootings were not isolated cases but reflected a growing practice in immigration enforcement that he described as alarming.
DHS has defended its officers, stating that in each incident, personnel believed their lives were in danger. In several cases, officers were reportedly injured. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the pattern involved vehicles being used as weapons against law enforcement, adding that dangerous individuals, including illegal immigrants and US citizens, were assaulting officers during operations.
The shootings occurred during enforcement actions linked to President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration crackdown, which has seen thousands of officers conducting raids at homes, workplaces, courthouses, immigration offices and public spaces. These actions have sparked protests and confrontations in several cities.
Among those shot were suspected criminals, undocumented immigrants and US citizens. Three people died in the incidents. It remains unclear how many of the shootings have been fully investigated, with no public findings released on whether the use of force was justified or whether any officers faced disciplinary action. In some cases, criminal charges were filed against those shot, though a few were later dismissed.
Experts have highlighted that firing at moving vehicles has long been discouraged in policing. Former Salt Lake City police chief Chris Burbank noted that since the 1990s, police departments have adopted stricter guidelines to prevent such shootings, emphasising officer positioning and limiting the circumstances under which firearms may be used against drivers.
DHS policy officially prohibits firing at moving vehicles unless officers have a reasonable belief of an imminent threat of death or serious injury, and warns of the dangers posed by out-of-control vehicles. However, concerns have been raised about whether officers are adequately trained and held accountable under these guidelines.
Homeland Security officials have insisted that officers receive regular training in de-escalation and use-of-force protocols and that all firearm discharges are reported, reviewed and investigated by appropriate agencies. Despite this, DHS has not provided updates on internal investigations, while the FBI has declined to comment on its reviews of some cases.
The incidents have intensified the debate over immigration enforcement tactics and the balance between officer safety, accountability and the protection of civilian lives.