ICE tactics are growing more violent

Question

ICE presence has been increasing significantly across the country. Especially in states that are considered more welcoming to immigrants. Due to the outbreak of protests, changes in laws, etc, there are public concerns that ICE tactics have become more violent.

Answer 1

This original claim from NPR is true. The article claims that ICE has become more violent in cities with high rates of immigration, especially in cities with a high number of immigrants. Most of the accounts covered took place in Chicago. Specifically, the attack on a reporter for CBS Chicago, Anderson links this account with the CBS article, which has quotes and photo evidence from the reporter who experienced this. The article includes multiple accounts of violence from ICE officers, which the author has linked with the original source from multiple organizations so these accounts can be easily verified. Other organizations have covered these stories as well, like CNN: “A judge in Illinois has temporarily blocked federal agents from using certain types of force and crowd-control measures against protesters, after video of a pastor being repeatedly shot by pepper balls during a demonstration outside at an ICE facility near Chicago drew widespread outcry” (Sharmen, 2025). The Author, Meg Anderson is an experienced writer for NPR, which can be seen here. The text is in a written in a truly unbiassed style to inform readers about these multiple accounts of unjustified violence, and displaying people’s growing fear over ICE’s violence. 

https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/10/us/illinois-judge-ruling-ice-protests-pastor-chicago-hnk Sharman, 2025. 

Answer 2

This claim is true, as there is more ICE activity increasing in cities, they have also resulted in using more violent tactics towards civilians. ICE agents have been seen with weapons on multiple occasions. An article published by NPR News, a non-profit media organization in the United States, provides many examples of ICE agents using violence, “one of the officers drops his gun and fumbles for it. Then, he appears to point it at bystanders”. However, Emily Covington, an assistant director in ICE’s Office of Public Affairs, told NPR that drawing a weapon can be used to de-escalate situations. Although it seems like drawing a weapon would make the situation much more tense and scary especially for the ones with no weapons. NPR states another example, “from Broadway, I11., near Chicago, appears to show a man outside an ICE facility getting shot in the head with a pepper ball, a projectile filled with chemical irritants. That man, Pastor David Black, has sued the Trump administration”. In the video shown, he is just shouting at them but not doing anything aggressive towards them, however they respond with violence. Another article published by CBS, states how reporter Asal Rezaei was shot by a pepper ball while sitting in her car outside a ICE facility. Rezaei expressed, “there was no active protest or protesters at the facility…no one around her at the time of the incident”. There are pictures of the truck after the incident on the article, Rezaei suffered irritation and nausea from the chemicals. Even though CBS News is left leaning, they provided evidence from the scene that backed up their claim. As we can see ICE agents, have no fear using violence against immigrants or bystanders.

 https://www.npr.org/2025/10/13/nx-s1-5566785/ice-dhs-immigration-tactics-more-violent

https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/feds-fire-pepper-ball-at-cbs-chicago-reporters-truck/?mc_cid=8dc507ce67&mc_eid=9c4a02011b

Answer 3

To determine the accuracy of this claim, I thoroughly researched the history of ICE’s tactics used to detain undocumented immigrants from the years 2009 to 2025.

Between the years of 2009 to 2017, the tactics used to detain illegal immigrants were occasionally violent. The American Immigration Council describes events where ICE agents would kick down doors and force their way into private residences (Waslin, 2009). However, it also mentions a 2014 peaceful detainment tactics, describing how local police would set up traffic checkpoints to ensnare undocumented immigrants without licenses or broken taillights (Marchevsky, Baker, 2014). These two points of information are significant to understanding the growth of violence within ICE agents, because it shows that the violence did not explode recently, rather was present, but less in severity.

On the contrary, in 2017, reports suggest a noticeable increase in the use of violence in detaining illegal immigrants. For example, the American Civil Liberties Union confirms the lawsuit involving Pastor David Black being shot in the head with a pepper ball, along with four employees of the Book Club Chicago during the Summer of 2025. In addition, the, “woman who was shot,” known as Martinez, was reported to have seven holes in her body from the firearms of the ICE agents (Struett, Heather, 2025). Finally, a former ICE chief explains that “They’ve [ICE agents] been forced to adopt some of these more aggressive tactics, because the administration seems more interested in the quantity of people arrested, more so than the quality” (Misra, 2025).

When comparing the tactics of the ICE agents in 2009 – 2017 and 2017 – 2025, it can be determined that the tactics of the ICE agents have grown to be more violent. Although violence was present in the years prior, the severity of such was less than recently, which involved the use of weapons. However, it is important to note that the lack of evidence of the claim article is fatal to its credibility.

Articles Used:

American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois

https://www.aclu-il.org/en/press-releases/protesters-and-members-press-challenge-first-amendment-violations-federal-forces-ice

(Marchevsky, Baker, 2014)

https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/why-has-president-obama-deported-more-immigrants-any-president-us-history/

(Misra, 2025)

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/10/14/former-ice-director-q-a-00603916

(Struett, Heather, 2025)

https://www.wbez.org/public-safety/2025/10/07/marimar-martinez-anthony-ian-santos-ruiz-border-patrol-shooting-brighton-park

(Waslin, 2009)

https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/blog/kicking-in-doors-stomping-on-rights-new-report-reveals-disturbing-details-of-ice-raids/?

Answer 4

I agree with the claim.   Even in places that are more open to immigrants, ICE's presence and “tactics”  have gotten increasingly brutal and confrontational. These days, raids are more militarized and frequently include masked agents breaking into homes late at night, flash-bang grenades, and helicopters. While KPBS reported incidents where ICE authorities attacked people and threw missiles at protesters, AP News claimed that agents in Chicago used zip ties and tear gas on families during a nighttime raid. They’re not even just aggressive towards immigrants and protesters, but now they’re being aggressive toward the law(police). These violent acts show how enforcement has gotten more hostile as well as more frequent. I genuinely think they’re finding entertainment in their illegal kidnappings and blatant bullying. ICE has shifted its focus from capturing people with criminal convictions to holding immigrants who have never committed a crime. According to VisaVerge, 68% of people detained in Southern California had no prior criminal history, showing a move away from selective enforcement and toward broad sweeps. Meanwhile, ICE is now able to operate in previously "sensitive" and off-limits places close to schools, hospitals, and courthouses according to new policies. Many communities are living in terror as a result of this nightmare we call America believing that they are being considered more like threats than like neighbors. And it’s only getting worse. ICE is now entering houses without warrants, taking immigrants even when they have their rights on them.

Answer 5

Claims of ICE becoming more violent are true and supported by credible reports and eyewitnesses. ICE's recent operations have involved unmarked vehicles and helicopters, chemical agents like tear gas and pepper balls, and zip-tying adults and children during raids (PBS). Their tactics have sparked widespread criticism from local officials and immigrant rights groups in Chicago who say the level of force is excessive (NPR). According to former acting ICE director John Sandweg, in his opinion, ICE has increased the level of aggression in its methods (Politico). What makes the current moment different is the current political climate, the pressure from the administration, and the ability of others to document and publicly post ICE encounters (Politico). Particularly in large cities such as Chicago, there are multiple reports of excessive force in peaceful areas like apartments and schools (PBS). While Sandweg did not express whether he thought ICE was extending its reach, he admitted that the current administration seems to have restructured or perhaps reoperationalized ICE in a manner that aims to get the largest number of people, regardless of whether they pose a threat to public safety (Politico). In short, ICE has historically used forceful tactics, but there is evidence that in 2025, their tactics have become more aggressive in some cities; this is compounded by the fact that their operations are frequently recorded by nearby people.