Internal guidance issued to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Minnesota directs them to avoid contact with “agitators” while carrying out enforcement operations, marking a shift in policy after two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens during protests, Reuters reports.
According to the internal memo reviewed by Reuters and disseminated by a senior ICE official, officers have been instructed not to communicate or engage with “agitators” — a term used for protesters or bystanders — “because it only serves to inflame the situation.” The guidance says that the only communication from agents should be to issue commands, and that unnecessary interaction should be avoided.
The new orders also state that ICE agents should target only immigrants with criminal charges or convictions, rather than conducting broad enforcement actions that have drawn backlash and legal challenges in Minneapolis and other cities. This directive represents a departure from the earlier wide-ranging sweeps that provoked criticism.
ICE agents are reportedly being provided megaphones to issue commands clearly during enforcement actions, with instructions to verbalize every step of the arrest process. However, the memo does not specify how agents should respond if people refuse to comply with commands.
The operational shift comes following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis this month during immigration enforcement operations — including the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti — which triggered public outrage and calls for changes in federal tactics.
In response to requests for comment, White House and Department of Homeland Security officials said discussions are ongoing about how best to conduct operations in Minnesota, and no guidance should be considered final until officially released.
MORE TOPICS:
Source: Nova.rs; Foto: EPA / Olga Fedorova