What’s Breaking Through About Federal Law Enforcement Tactics

The Trump administration has sent thousands of federal law enforcement agents around the country to conduct immigration enforcement. Regularly masked and armed, those federal officers from agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have in many instances used unnecessary force to conduct large-scale arrests.

The substantial increase in federal law enforcement in several states accompanies recent deployments of National Guard troops. The president has said that the military is needed, in part, to protect federal agents and their detention facilities with “full force, if necessary.”

The increased presence of federal law enforcement agents has led to the militarization of these cities. In fact, in those cities, there are numerous examples of excessive use of force and brutality against people, including U.S. citizens, peaceful protesters, clergy, and members of the media.

In November, a federal judge said agents in Chicago were violating the constitutional rights of peaceful protesters and the media with their use of excessive force. That district court judge said administration officials lied about the threats posed by demonstrators and journalists, “chilling” First Amendment protections.

Meanwhile, states have pushed back. Multiple states have challenged the National Guard deployments in court. Governors like JB Pritzker of Illinois have lambasted such deployments, arguing the president is trying to “manufacture a crisis.”

Here are the messages that we found are resonating with Americans, based on States United research:

• Federal officers are using brutal tactics and militarizing American streets.
  • Often without search warrants and due process, federal agents have stormed our communities, arrested Americans without cause, detained people based on how they look, scared children outside of their schools, cleared entire apartment buildings, and thrown women and older people to the ground.
• Federal agents are out of control.
  • Instead of public safety, they’re focusing on swarming school drop-off lines, chasing hecklers on bicycles, and demanding “papers” from families walking down the street.
  • Federal agents have met peaceful protesters and journalists with rubber bullets, flashbangs, and tear gas. Agents have even pointed guns or shot at protesters.
  • This is not serious law enforcement.
• Masked federal agents are all over our streets. What do they have to hide?
  • Americans believe in transparency and working together to keep our communities safe—not hiding.
• This is not how Americans conduct federal law enforcement.
  • We’ve seen masked agents, unmarked cars, and violent arrests. This is not the way. The administration can do immigration enforcement without all this chaos and these brutal tactics. You can go after criminals and keep the public safe without sacrificing who we are as Americans.
  • Americans are pushing back by recording law enforcement interactions, asking for badge numbers and identification, and speaking up for their neighbors to let the world know what is happening and that they won’t stand for it.
  • The president should put an end to this assault on our cities and our values. If he refuses, state and local leaders will take him to court.