ProPublica: More Than 40 Cases of Immigration Agents Using Banned Chokeholds and Other Moves That Can Cut Off Breathing

[muriel_volestrangler]

This story contains photos, videos and descriptions of violent arrests.

After George Floyd’s murder by a police officer six years ago in Minneapolis — less than a mile from where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and killed Renee Good last week — police departments and federal agencies banned chokeholds and other moves that can restrict breathing or blood flow.
...
Examples are scattered across social media. ProPublica found more than 40 cases over the past year of immigration agents using these life-threatening maneuvers on immigrants, citizens and protesters. The agents are usually masked, their identities secret. The government won’t say if any of them have been punished.

In nearly 20 cases, agents appeared to use chokeholds and other neck restraints that the Department of Homeland Security prohibits “unless deadly force is authorized.”

About two dozen videos show officers kneeling on people’s necks or backs or keeping them face down on the ground while already handcuffed. Such tactics are not prohibited outright but are often discouraged, including by federal trainers, in part because using them for a prolonged time risks asphyxiation.

https://www.propublica.org/article/videos-ice-dhs-immigration-agents-using-chokeholds-citizens

Retired immigration and border patrol officers (retired before the fascist regime) say they arrested many actual drug traffickers, human smugglers, or child molesters who resisted, and never had to use these chokeholds.

[malaise]

1. Get thee to the greatest page for vusibility

Expose these fascists

[yellow dahlia]

13. I second that emotion.

[2naSalit]

2. K&R

[orangecrush]

3. Quite intentional

They are sending a message.

And I'm guessing they have been instructed to do so.

[yellow dahlia]

14. Agreed.

[Fil1957]

4. They're thugs, pure and simple, lawless thugs...

[MustLoveBeagles]

5. Kicking for visibility

[Figarosmom]

6. Sounds like as of the

First of the year deadly force has been authorized. Likely encouraged.

[PatSeg]

7. 40 cases that we're aware of

Just imagine what we don't know.

[yellow dahlia]

15. Chilling to think about.

[PatSeg]

17. Yes and I think that as bad as it looks

on TV and social media, it is probably much worse in real life, not to mention the detention centers. If it wasn't for smartphones, we probably would know close to nothing at all unless we witnessed it in person.

[yellow dahlia]

18. The fact that we all have cameras in our phones is critical, right now.

Everyone is chronicling the events.

"They" are still unrestrained. But imagine, if we didn't have cameras in our phones...

[PatSeg]

19. And then you have most homes

equipped with video surveillance as well, so it is really hard to lie about what happened. It is bizarre that these agents are even more unrestrained as if they're daring anyone to try and stop them. It feels like some psychological disorder when they get caught and instead of pulling back, they ramp up the violence.

[yellow dahlia]

20. Indeed. Abusers double down.

And they feel emboldened because they expect no consequences....no matter what they do.

[PatSeg]

22. Yes, that has been my experience

Must be part of whatever that disorder is - never admit you're wrong, never apologize, and then double-down with more of the same.

[Javaman]

8. this is what's been seen...

what worries me more is what is not being seen or recorded.

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. Yes, I'd assume much more without recordings. Which is why people like Renee Good are important

documenting the violence, the unjustified Kavanaugh stops, the refusal to check status before arresting, etc.

[ancianita]

10. More evidence that Congress MUST defund and abolish ICE, by rescinding the Homeland Security Act of 2002.

Last edited Tue Jan 13, 2026, 06:07 PM - Edit history (1)

Yes, the U.S. Congress created Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which established the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in response to the 9/11 attacks, merging functions from the former Immigration and Naturalization Service and U.S. Customs Service.

Congress can create a New Dept of U.S. Security -- the NEW name for a US Security Agency -- retaining other former depts under DHS, BUT RE-establishing the INS and USCS as separate -- thereby Congress (The People's Branch, the First Branch)
will oversee and hold accountable all personnel in those border and immigration agencies MUCH better than the current "Homeland" nazi agency does in the executive branch.

Undoing MOST of Project 2025 should be first on the new Congress's schedule for 2027.

[Evolve Dammit]

11. secret police thugs. How is this ANY different than the Nazi's?

[Blue Full Moon]

12. There was an incident in St Paul of ICE doing that and the person was unresponsive

[yellow dahlia]

16. I never knew I could feel SO much hate.

I hate these people.

[pattyloutwo]

21. Horrible

[calimary]

23. Totally!