Tactics Used by ICE for Arrests

Publicado el 17/03/2025 a las 20:48

Deceptive Tactics Used by ICE for Arrests.
Reported by La Nación.
Here are the details.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been accused of using deceptive strategies to carry out arrests of individuals without regular immigration status in the United States.

According to a report from the Immigrant Defense Project, ICE agents resort to disguises, fake IDs, and misleading phone calls to persuade their targets and achieve arrests without resistance.

One common tactic is for ICE agents to present themselves as local police officers to gain the person’s trust and make them cooperate without suspecting it is an immigration operation.

As per the report, agents often wear plain clothes or uniforms similar to those of law enforcement agencies.

Some phrases used by ICE in these cases include:

VIDEO | Supposed ICE agents knock on doors of Hispanic homes
Read more here https://t.co/vwn1qnykre

– La Red (@Lared1061) January 28, 2025

«Police, open the door!»
«I’m Detective [name].»
«We are from the ‘warrant squad’.»
«We are from precinct [x, y, z].»
«I’m calling from [the local court] to confirm your address.»
«I’m calling from the district attorney’s office.»
«We are police looking for [name] as a victim of identity theft.»

With these statements, ICE aims to persuade individuals to provide personal information or allow access to their homes without being aware that it is an immigration raid.

In-Person Deception Tactics

‘Police, open the door’: this is how ICE agents knock on the doors of migrants to arrest them | By Daniela Mérida https://t.co/zbgoqjnhd

– Infobae América (@infobaeamerica) January 9, 2025

Besides fake identities, ICE agents use various strategies to get a person to open the door or leave their home, which facilitates their arrest without needing a judicial order. Some of these tactics include:

General investigation trick: agents claim they are conducting a routine procedure and need to ask questions.
Identity theft trick: they claim that a relative of the person has been a victim of identity theft and require information.
Criminal investigation trick: they claim to be conducting an investigation into a crime and need to interrogate the person.
Use of photos trick: they show pictures of supposed suspects and ask the person to come out of their house to see them better.

Strategies Used in Phone Calls

Another tactic used by ICE is to contact their targets by phone to gather information or convince them to meet with them.

Here are some of the most used strategies:

Lost ID trick: they claim to have found a lost document and need to confirm the address.
Suspect trick: they indicate that the person is being investigated for a crime and must answer questions.
Direct contact trick: they request a meeting with phrases like «Can we see you?» or «Can you come to our office?» These calls can create confusion and fear, leading individuals to provide information without realizing they are interacting with ICE.

Deceptive Tactics Used by ICE for Arrests and What to Do

The Immigrant Defense Project recommends that people know their rights to avoid falling victim to these tactics:

Right to not open the door: ICE cannot enter a home without express consent.
Right to request a judicial order: agents can only enter if they present an order signed by a judge.
Right to privacy: the law protects the home as a private space.
Right to remain silent: one is not obligated to answer questions about immigration status or place of birth.
Right not to sign documents: never sign anything without the advice of a lawyer.
Right to seek legal assistance: if ICE attempts an arrest, contact a specialized lawyer.

The Immigrant Defense Project’s website has informative materials that help the community identify these practices and respond appropriately to an immigration raid.

Knowing your rights and acting cautiously can make a difference in risky situations with ICE.

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