ACLU Report Finds Force Used in One-Third of ICE Encounters Since 2025
An ACLU analysis of more than 1,200 immigration enforcement actions across eight states shows that nearly 33% involved physical force or threats, prompting criticism of ICE's tactics under the Trump administration.
The American Civil Liberties Union released a report Thursday documenting widespread use of force by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in more than 1,200 operations conducted from January 2025 through the end of last year. The study, which compiled news reports, school and hospital press releases, and community-group accounts, found that roughly one-third of the incidents involved physical force or the threat of force.
"You're seeing the threat of using force and actually using it become the default tool for immigration enforcement agents," said Naureen Shah, director of policy and government affairs for immigration at the ACLU and a co-author of the report.
Researchers recorded over 400 instances of officers pushing, tackling or pinning individuals, as well as similar numbers of cases where weapons such as chemical irritants, rubber bullets and tasers were deployed. Dozens of encounters featured tactics that many local police departments restrict, including knee-to-neck pressure and chokeholds. The report also noted that many confrontations occurred in everyday settings—bus stops, grocery stores and roadways—and involved children, U.S. citizens, protesters, bystanders and journalists.
Law-enforcement experts said ICE’s approach has shifted toward more frequent, less targeted traffic stops. Retired NYPD officer Jillian Snider observed a rise in vehicle stops that often lack proper training, citing recent fatal shootings of two men in Texas and Maine who were not subjects of targeted operations. In both cases, officers were not wearing body cameras, and agency statements about the incidents conflicted with witness accounts.
"I'm really worried there's going to be even more of these killings," Shah added, warning that a culture of abuse and pressure to meet arrest quotas could exacerbate the problem.
The ACLU emphasized that its data represent a snapshot and that many enforcement actions likely go unrecorded. ICE did not comment on the findings. Following the two shootings, the agency announced a pause on non-urgent traffic stops, while President Trump urged continuation of such stops on social media. ICE told NPR it would not discuss tactics but said it continually evaluates procedures to protect its officers.