Can local police arrest ICE if they violate someone’s civil rights?

Minnesota courts are reportedly overwhelmed by the number of civil rights lawsuits being filed by immigrants and observers interacting with ICE and CBP during “Operation Metro Surge.”

Politico has documented more than 2,400 cases across the country, in which judges have rejected the administration’s detention policy.  

Across our own state local police departments have put out statements about what they can and cannot do when ICE comes to their communities.

In the wake of the 2020 murder of George Floyd, many Police Departments were challenged to renew their focus on civil rights – to avoid the kinds of shootings, injuries, and lawsuits we see around ICE and Border Patrol right now. 

According to reporting by The Atlantic and the Wall Street Journal, that’s led to a rift between federal agents and police officers, as they see ICE using tactics previously denigrated by the Justice Department in the wake of George Floyd. 

But what are police officers able to do when confronting potential civil rights violations by federal agents?

Guest:

• Tahir Duckett is the Executive Director of the Center for Innovations in Community Safety at Georgetown Law. The center runs the ABLE project, which teaches police how to intervene during civil rights violations by fellow law enforcement officers

Related stories:

• Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) Project - Georgetown Law
• Police and ICE Agents Are on a Collision Course - The Atlantic
• Police Who Once Backed ICE’s Mission Are Losing Faith in Its Tactics - Wall Street Journal

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