Civilians' lives are being put at risk by immigration agents who are using banned chokeholds. These tactics, which include wrapping an arm around someone's neck or pressing a knee into their back, can cause serious injury or even death.
According to ProPublica, more than 40 cases of immigration agents using these life-threatening maneuvers have been reported over the past year. The agents are often masked and their identities are secret, making it difficult for authorities to investigate and hold them accountable.
One example is the case of Arnoldo Bazan, a 16-year-old high school student who was arrested by immigration agents in Houston after his car was pulled over. Agents put him in a chokehold, wrapping his arm around his neck, and he reported feeling like he was going to pass out and die. His family says that the agents threatened to charge him if his father didn't agree to be deported.
Another example is the case of Carlos Sebastian Zapata Rivera, a young father who was arrested by ICE agents in Massachusetts after they targeted his undocumented wife. Agents pressed their thumbs into his neck, causing him to pass out and experience convulsions.
Experts say that these tactics are not only banned but also unnecessary and potentially deadly. "These statements were lies," said Zapata Rivera's lawyer, adding that the agent who used the carotid restraint denied medical attention to his client after he regaining consciousness.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a policy prohibiting the use of chokeholds and carotid restraints unless deadly force is authorized. However, experts say that the agents are using these tactics anyway, often without justification or accountability.
The use of banned chokeholds by immigration agents raises serious concerns about their training, preparation, and accountability. "They are encountering people they don't know anything about," said Scott Shuchart, a former assistant director at ICE. "There may be other factors, too, such as quotas and a lack of consequences amid gutted oversight."
Some officials are trying to hold federal immigration officers to account, including California's state Legislature, which passed bills prohibiting officers from wearing masks and requiring them to display identification during operations.
However, the Trump administration has quickly filed legal challenges against these new laws, claiming they are unconstitutional. Meanwhile, Renee Good, a mother of three who was killed by an ICE agent six years ago in Minneapolis, remains a victim of the system that is supposed to protect her family.
The use of banned chokeholds by immigration agents is a symptom of a larger problem – one of abuse of power and lack of accountability. As experts say, "These are not professional police officers." They need to be held accountable for their actions.
According to ProPublica, more than 40 cases of immigration agents using these life-threatening maneuvers have been reported over the past year. The agents are often masked and their identities are secret, making it difficult for authorities to investigate and hold them accountable.
One example is the case of Arnoldo Bazan, a 16-year-old high school student who was arrested by immigration agents in Houston after his car was pulled over. Agents put him in a chokehold, wrapping his arm around his neck, and he reported feeling like he was going to pass out and die. His family says that the agents threatened to charge him if his father didn't agree to be deported.
Another example is the case of Carlos Sebastian Zapata Rivera, a young father who was arrested by ICE agents in Massachusetts after they targeted his undocumented wife. Agents pressed their thumbs into his neck, causing him to pass out and experience convulsions.
Experts say that these tactics are not only banned but also unnecessary and potentially deadly. "These statements were lies," said Zapata Rivera's lawyer, adding that the agent who used the carotid restraint denied medical attention to his client after he regaining consciousness.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a policy prohibiting the use of chokeholds and carotid restraints unless deadly force is authorized. However, experts say that the agents are using these tactics anyway, often without justification or accountability.
The use of banned chokeholds by immigration agents raises serious concerns about their training, preparation, and accountability. "They are encountering people they don't know anything about," said Scott Shuchart, a former assistant director at ICE. "There may be other factors, too, such as quotas and a lack of consequences amid gutted oversight."
Some officials are trying to hold federal immigration officers to account, including California's state Legislature, which passed bills prohibiting officers from wearing masks and requiring them to display identification during operations.
However, the Trump administration has quickly filed legal challenges against these new laws, claiming they are unconstitutional. Meanwhile, Renee Good, a mother of three who was killed by an ICE agent six years ago in Minneapolis, remains a victim of the system that is supposed to protect her family.
The use of banned chokeholds by immigration agents is a symptom of a larger problem – one of abuse of power and lack of accountability. As experts say, "These are not professional police officers." They need to be held accountable for their actions.
. I mean, using banned chokeholds is literally a death sentence! And it's not just the physical harm that's the problem, it's the emotional trauma too. Can you imagine being pulled over by an agent and feeling like your life is in danger? 
. It's like they're playing a game of cat and mouse, and the public is just getting hurt in the process.
. It's like they're more concerned with protecting their own powers than with keeping people safe.
. Renee Good was just six years ago, and her family is still dealing with the aftermath. It's like they're being punished twice - once for having an undocumented family member, and again for not being able to protect themselves from these so-called 'agents'.
. It's just not right that they're putting lives at risk like this, especially when they're already in a vulnerable situation.
. And it's not like they're being held to any standards - experts say they're more concerned with quotas than helping people who need help 
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. Anything less is just unacceptable 
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i mean like what even is the point of having laws if ppl r just gonna ignore them? i got a cousin who's friends dad was deported and they were treated so rough he was left with a bunch of physical scarring 
and mental trauma too. it's crazy that these agents get to wear masks and remain anonymous which makes it super hard for ppl to report abuse 
and i'm all about accountability so let's just get rid of this corruption already 
. I need to see some concrete evidence of these incidents, like body cam footage or witness statements, before I believe this is happening.
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. We need to see real change here, not just more empty promises from politicians 
carotid restraints? sounds like somethin out of a video game, not real life 
these ppl r gettin away with murder... like, what even is the point of having laws if u cant enforce them? 40 cases reported in a year and no one's touchin' ICE agents over it 
And it's crazy that they think they can just hide behind masks & get away with it... not on my watch! 
. This is just a recipe for disaster 
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. We need to fix the system from the inside out and make sure that nobody has unchecked power 
. Until then, we'll just keep seeing stories like this and wonder what could've been done differently 
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. And yeah, I know some will say it's too radical or too expensive, but let me tell you, the cost of lives lost due to these agents' actions far outweighs any "cost" 
. We can't just sit around and wait for someone to get hurt before we take action 
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This is soooo messed up. These people can't even do their jobs right! Like what's the point of using banned chokeholds if you're just gonna end up killing someone? 
. The fact that his bosses are trying to cover it up is even more sketchy 
. I mean, what's the point of even having a policy if no one's going to follow it? It's like they're more focused on enforcement than actually helping people.
I'm thinking of making some posters with pictures of these banned tactics and putting them up around town to show people what's going on 
. These agents are supposed to be serving justice not putting innocent lives at risk. I don't get why no one's held accountable for this yet, it's just common sense