Congress opens probes after ICE use-of-force jumps 15 percent

In Illinois, Texas and Michigan, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been involved in violent incidents that have raised new scrutiny. A video shows an American citizen hospitalized in Illinois after a raid that ICE agents claimed was a case of mistaken identity. In Texas, a delivery driver was shot in the back during a routine stop. In Michigan, an ICE agent fired on a man during a raid, leaving him injured.

The incidents come as ICE’s enforcement focus has sharpened since 2021, when the department expanded its “high‑risk” operations and increased the number of agents on the ground. The policy shift was meant to target people who pose a danger to public safety, but critics argue it has led to more aggressive tactics. A 2023 DHS report noted a 15‑percent rise in use‑of‑force incidents involving ICE agents compared with the previous year.

According to ICE, 1,200 arrests were made in 2023, with 50 recorded incidents of force. Civil‑rights groups say the numbers are underreported and that the agency’s “zero‑tolerance” stance fuels confrontations. A spokesperson for ICE said the department is reviewing the cases and will cooperate with any investigations. Lawmakers in Illinois and Texas have called for independent reviews, while a Michigan senator has asked the DHS to explain the shooting.

Congress is preparing hearings on ICE’s use of force, and the Biden administration has signaled it will re‑examine the department’s tactics. The three incidents have intensified calls for clearer rules on when agents can use weapons and for better training on de‑escalation. If the investigations find wrongdoing, ICE could face policy changes or even a federal audit, which would alter how the agency enforces immigration laws nationwide.