Immigration agents, leaders defy best practices honed by U.S. police for half a century

"Officers are trained to not stand in front of or reach into moving vehicles, to never pull their firearms unless it is absolutely necessary, and to use force only in proportion to a corresponding threat. They are trained to clearly identify themselves, de-escalate tensions, respect the sanctity of life and quickly render aid to anyone they wound."

"When police shootings occur, leaders are trained to carefully protect evidence and immediately launch an investigation - or multiple ones - in order to assure the community that any potential wrongdoing by officers will be fairly assessed."

"Agents are entering homes without warrants, swarming moving vehicles in the street and escalating standoffs with protesters using excessive force, while department leaders and administration officials justify their actions with simple, brash rhetoric rather than careful, sophisticated investigations."

Established law-enforcement best practices require officers to avoid standing in front of moving vehicles, to draw firearms only when absolutely necessary, to use force proportional to a threat, to identify themselves, to de-escalate tensions, to respect the sanctity of life, to render aid, to protect evidence, and to immediately investigate shootings. Federal immigration agents have entered homes without warrants, swarmed moving vehicles, escalated standoffs with protesters, and used excessive force. Fatal shootings of U.S. citizens in Minneapolis highlight breaches of those standards, and administration officials have often justified actions with rhetoric instead of transparent investigations.

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