New Legislation Aims to Limit ICE Use of Force After Minneapolis Killing, but Passage Uncertain
A new bill introduced by Representative Delia Ramirez plans to impose basic limits on the use of force by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, following the recent killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis. The legislation aims to address concerns over the agency's aggressive tactics and lack of accountability.
According to Ramirez, the Department of Homeland Security has demonstrated "lawlessness" and operates with "unaccountable" behavior, violating constitutional rights and creating chaos and fear among communities. The proposed bill would require ICE officers to use only "objectively reasonable" force, attempt to identify themselves, and issue a verbal warning before using force whenever possible.
The legislation also requires the agency to collect and maintain consistent data on the use of force and publish reports online, including incident data related to the use of force by law enforcement officers or agents. Additionally, if an ICE agent kills or hospitalizes someone, the department must brief lawmakers within 24 hours.
Ramirez views her bill as a necessary step to curb violence by the agency, which she believes has been operating with impunity. While passage in the Republican-majority House is uncertain, Ramirez hopes to build support from both sides of the aisle and believes that withholding federal funds from the agency could ultimately lead to its dismantling.
The new legislation comes amid growing public calls for reform and abolition of ICE. Recent polling suggests more Americans are in favor of abolishing the agency than keeping it. The Intercept has documented numerous instances of excessive use of force by federal agents, including tear-gassing, beating, and shooting less-lethal munitions at undocumented immigrants and U.S. citizens who spoke out against the administration's deportation machine.
Ramirez argues that the proposed bill is a "bare minimum" step to address the agency's violence but notes that Democrats should also work towards dismantling ICE altogether. She believes that the agency was designed to give agents broad latitude, which has led to impunity and abuse of power.
As the debate over ICE's role in American society continues, lawmakers like Ramirez are taking steps to hold the agency accountable for its actions. The proposed legislation marks an attempt to establish limits on the use of force by law enforcement agencies and provide greater transparency and oversight.
A new bill introduced by Representative Delia Ramirez plans to impose basic limits on the use of force by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, following the recent killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis. The legislation aims to address concerns over the agency's aggressive tactics and lack of accountability.
According to Ramirez, the Department of Homeland Security has demonstrated "lawlessness" and operates with "unaccountable" behavior, violating constitutional rights and creating chaos and fear among communities. The proposed bill would require ICE officers to use only "objectively reasonable" force, attempt to identify themselves, and issue a verbal warning before using force whenever possible.
The legislation also requires the agency to collect and maintain consistent data on the use of force and publish reports online, including incident data related to the use of force by law enforcement officers or agents. Additionally, if an ICE agent kills or hospitalizes someone, the department must brief lawmakers within 24 hours.
Ramirez views her bill as a necessary step to curb violence by the agency, which she believes has been operating with impunity. While passage in the Republican-majority House is uncertain, Ramirez hopes to build support from both sides of the aisle and believes that withholding federal funds from the agency could ultimately lead to its dismantling.
The new legislation comes amid growing public calls for reform and abolition of ICE. Recent polling suggests more Americans are in favor of abolishing the agency than keeping it. The Intercept has documented numerous instances of excessive use of force by federal agents, including tear-gassing, beating, and shooting less-lethal munitions at undocumented immigrants and U.S. citizens who spoke out against the administration's deportation machine.
Ramirez argues that the proposed bill is a "bare minimum" step to address the agency's violence but notes that Democrats should also work towards dismantling ICE altogether. She believes that the agency was designed to give agents broad latitude, which has led to impunity and abuse of power.
As the debate over ICE's role in American society continues, lawmakers like Ramirez are taking steps to hold the agency accountable for its actions. The proposed legislation marks an attempt to establish limits on the use of force by law enforcement agencies and provide greater transparency and oversight.
can't believe this is still happening 
ICE is literally getting away with murder over here 
and it's about time someone takes action 
Ramirez is a total hero for even trying to push for change 
but let's be real, 24 hours is not enough time for lawmakers to get briefed on an incident like that 
if they're gonna make a difference they need to take it up a notch and go full-on abolition 
ICE needs to be shut down for good 
the public demands accountability and transparency 
This new bill is about damn time! I mean, who wants their kids targeted by aggressive ICE agents? It's crazy how much power they've got without anyone holding them accountable for using that power. The fact that DHS has been getting away with "lawlessness" for so long is just wild. 
, but if anyone can make it happen, it's Delia Ramirez. She's all over this and she's not backing down. We should be supporting her efforts and demanding more change from our lawmakers. 
it's like u can't make up 4 lackin' accountability. i think delia ramirez is onto somethin tho, require ICE agents 2 identify themselves & give warnings b4 usin force would def help prevent situations like renee good's death. btw, withholding federal funds from ice could be a lowkey effective way 2 dismantle the agency 
this is such a scary thing what happened to Renee Good in Minneapolis 
my heart goes out to her family she deserves justice and for her loved ones to get some closure too 
it's not right that these agents have been using excessive force on people who are just trying to make a life here or visit their families 
the fact that they're being so secretive about the use of force is already alarming 
if they can't even keep track of their own actions how can we trust them to do what's right? 
. The fact that there are more Americans callin' for abolition than keepin' it is pretty tellin' 
. These politicians need to start listenin' to the people instead of just doin' what's convenient for 'em 
.
". I'm all for accountability, but I don't think that means stripmin' these agents of their power entirely 
.
. It's about time we start holdin' our government officials accountable for their actions 
. And yeah, withholdin' federal funds from ICE might just be the push they need to dismantle it altogether 
The fact that they're being sued for their own actions is pretty sad, but what's even sadder is that it took someone getting killed to make a difference.
It seems like they're trying to create a monster here. And the fact that some people are arguing against this bill is just scary... what's next? 
I just can't imagine how terrifying it must be for families to lose a loved one at the hands of ICE agents. I think we need more than just "basic limits" on their use of force - we need real accountability. 
It's not just about the numbers, but about the human cost of this kind of aggression. We need our lawmakers to listen to the voices of those who've been hurt and demand change. 
. I mean, Congress has been known to find ways to work around that sort of thing. Maybe they'll just find a way to rebrand ICE and make it seem like a more "modern" law enforcement agency or something 
. Let's hope that this bill passes and actually leads to some real change