Masked agents, tear gas, and raids: the tactics used in Trump’s deportation drive | BBC News

Key Concepts

• Mass Deportation Program: A campaign promise by Donald Trump to significantly increase the deportation of undocumented immigrants.
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): The primary agency responsible for implementing deportation plans.
• Border Patrol: Another agency involved in immigration enforcement, increasingly seen in US cities.
• "Whole of Government Effort": A coordinated approach involving multiple government departments in immigration enforcement.
• Targeted Arrests vs. Mass Arrests: A shift in tactics from focusing on individuals with criminal records to apprehending large numbers of people.
• Concealing Identities: ICE agents wearing face coverings and plain clothing, often with unmarked vehicles.
• Arrests Outside Protected Places: Immigration enforcement actions occurring in locations previously considered off-limits, such as hospitals and immigration courts.
• Tear Gas and Chemical Irritants: The use of riot-control weapons against civilians during immigration raids and protests.
• Indiscriminate Weapon: Tear gas's inability to target specific individuals, affecting everyone in the vicinity.
• ICE Funding: A significant increase in the budget allocated to ICE, making it the highest-funded law enforcement body in the US.

Summary of Immigration Enforcement Tactics Under Trump Administration

Extraordinary scenes of immigration enforcement have been observed in various locations across the United States. This surge in activity is a direct result of Donald Trump's campaign promise to launch "the largest deportation program in American history." Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the principal agency executing this plan, aiming to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. However, other departments, including Border Patrol, are also participating, with agents now being seen making arrests in US cities, a departure from their usual border stationing. This is described as a "whole of government effort," unprecedented in its scale and intensity, with the objective of reducing the immigrant population.

Shift in Arrest Tactics and Goals

The Trump administration has reportedly set ICE a target of 3,000 arrests per day, though they are currently falling short of this goal. Nevertheless, the agency's average monthly arrests under President Trump are approximately three times higher than those under President Biden during the same period last year. Trump's stance is that anyone who has entered the country illegally is a potential target.

Comparison with Previous Administrations: Former ICE officials, such as John Sanweg who led the agency under Barack Obama, note that previous administrations prioritized arresting individuals with criminal records. Sanweg described this approach as a "much more targeted surgical strike," characterized by a lower profile and less controversy. The current administration, however, reportedly found this approach ineffective due to its lower arrest numbers. This has led to a tactical shift away from targeted arrests towards "mass arrests of people."

Observed Tactics in Crackdowns

BBC Verify has documented over 70 videos shared on social media since June, showcasing the current crackdown across several cities. Three primary tactics have been widely observed:

1. Agents Concealing Their Identities:

   • Prevalence: In over 80% of the analyzed videos, some officers are seen wearing face coverings.
   • Lack of Identification: In seven videos, agents were observed in plain clothing without clear law enforcement identification.
   • Unmarked Vehicles: Agents frequently use unmarked vehicles.
   • Novelty: While undercover operations have occurred previously, the widespread use of face coverings is a new development.
   • Expert Opinion: Deborah Fly Shaker, former acting chief of staff at ICE under President Biden, stated, "masking is not something I've ever seen done before." She expressed concerns that this practice, combined with a failure to identify oneself, "is making the situation more dangerous and putting people at risk."
   • Administration Justification: The Trump administration claims this is necessary for agent protection, citing online threats and a reported over 1,000% increase in assaults against officers and their families. An official stated, "I'm sorry if people are offended by them wearing masks, but I'm not going to let my officers and agents go out there and put their lives on the line and their family on the line because people don't like what immigration enforcement is."

2. Arrests Outside Previously Protected Places:

   • Shift in Location: Before the current administration, certain locations were typically considered off-limits for immigration enforcement. Now, federal agents are being seen in hospitals and patrolling immigration courthouses.
   • Impact on Court Processes: Individuals attend immigration court to follow legal processes and seek lawful status. Failure to appear can result in removal orders in their absence, creating a "catch-22" situation.
   • Case Study: 26 Federal Plaza, New York: This immigration courthouse has become an epicenter for crackdowns. A viral incident involved a woman confronting an agent after her husband was detained, leading to the officer's temporary suspension.

3. Use of Tear Gas and Chemical Irritants:

   • Verified Incidents: Footage of tear gas and other chemical irritants being used has been verified in eight different incidents.
   • Example: Los Angeles Raid: A raid targeting suspected undocumented immigrants seeking construction jobs saw an agent point pepper spray at someone filming, and another deploy what appeared to be a tear gas canister.
   • Use Against Protesters: Tear gas has also been deployed against civilians protesting the crackdowns, as seen in incidents in Chicago in October.
   • Judicial Concerns: A judge in Chicago ordered agents to cease using such weapons on protesters who posed no immediate threat, expressing concern that the practice continues.
   • Expert Analysis: Dr. Rahini Ha, who studies the dangers of tear gas in civilian settings, described it as an "indiscriminate weapon" that affects everyone in the area, not just those posing a threat. She believes its use is "excessively and unnecessarily and quite disproportionately to what the threat is that's being posed."
   • Department of Homeland Security Response: The Department of Homeland Security claims that far-left protesters have interrupted their work and released a video showing individuals throwing objects at agents.

Future of Immigration Raids and Funding

The current immigration raids and protests against them show no signs of abating. Recruitment drives are underway to expand ICE's ranks. This expansion is supported by a $75 billion package approved for the agency over the next four years, which will make ICE "the highest funded law enforcement body in the US by far." One perspective suggests that the current actions are merely "the opening act, and we're about to get into the the meat of the performance."

Conclusion

The Trump administration's immigration enforcement strategy represents a significant departure from previous approaches, characterized by a focus on mass deportations, increased arrest numbers, and the adoption of more aggressive tactics. These tactics include agents concealing their identities, conducting arrests in previously protected areas, and the use of riot-control weapons. While the administration cites agent safety and the need for effective enforcement, critics and experts raise concerns about the legality, proportionality, and potential dangers of these methods. The substantial increase in ICE funding suggests a continued and intensified focus on these enforcement efforts in the coming years.