By SDCN Staff
Washington, D.C.–Reps. Scott Peters (D-CA), Dan Goldman (D-NY), and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) introduced legislation aimed at tightening standards for the use of force by federal immigration agents.
The Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act aims to enhance public safety by aligning federal immigration enforcement with the Justice Department’s heightened standards for the use of force. The bill would restrict the use of crowd-control munitions such as tear gas, mandate the use of body cameras, and limit the use of masks by agents to improve accountability.
“Law enforcement officers should be focused on upholding public safety,” Peters said in a statement. “Yet recent tactics by federal agents have been more aggressive and dangerous, making our communities less safe.”
Peters cited incidents of excessive force used by federal agents against nonviolent citizens, immigrants, journalists, and clergy during enforcement operations. He pointed to an example in which agents allegedly used flash-bang grenades and handcuffed employees during a raid at a family restaurant.
Krishnamoorthi said the legislation would ensure that Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and the Department of Homeland Security “are held to the same constitutional standards as every other law enforcement agency.”
“Each day of the Trump administration’s ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ brings new stories of excessive force — from a faith leader shot with a pepper ball to reporters struck while covering protests,” Krishnamoorthi said. “This unchecked aggression against civilians must stop.”
The bill has drawn support from several advocacy groups, including the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, the Coalition on Human Needs, Church World Service, and Third Way.
“The Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act brings humanity and transparency into enforcement,” said Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights. “Every family deserves to feel safe. Every life deserves dignity.”
Original cosponsors of the bill include Reps. Nydia Velázquez, Yvette Clarke, Ro Khanna, Judy Chu, Doris Matsui, Mike Thompson, Jerrold Nadler, Julia Brownley, and more than a dozen others.
Democrats propose bill to limit force by federal immigration agents
