Federal Agents and the Use of Force: A Closer Look

In recent times, federal agents have been caught on camera using force against protesters. This has sparked a lot of discussion about whether they are following the rules. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has clear guidelines on when force can be used. It should only happen when there's no other safe way to handle a situation. A former federal agent, Eric Balliet, who worked for over 20 years, reviewed some of these videos. He was in charge of investigating misuse of force at U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) until last year. Balliet said, "This isn't how I practiced law enforcement for 25 years. " He found several concerning incidents in the videos he watched. One big issue is agents firing less-lethal weapons at protesters' heads and torsos. DHS rules say agents shouldn't aim for the head, neck, or other sensitive areas. But in some videos, agents standing above protesters fired pepper balls at them. In one video, a priest was hit in the head and fell to the ground. Balliet said this shows a lack of proper training. Another problem is the use of tear gas and pepper spray at close range. Videos from different cities show agents spraying protesters directly in the face, even when they weren't physically threatening the agents. DHS rules say these chemicals should only be used when someone is actively resisting. Balliet found this use of force disturbing because there was no attempt to de-escalate the situation first. Agents have also been seen using vehicles to push or move protesters. Balliet said driving a vehicle into a protester is considered deadly force. He explained that introducing a vehicle into a tense situation changes the dynamics and increases the risk. The fact that the vehicles were unmarked made it even more dangerous. There have also been instances of agents using chokeholds, which DHS policy prohibits unless deadly force is authorized. In some videos, agents put their hands around protesters' necks. Balliet said this is considered lethal force and that anyone doing this should be removed from duty immediately. Despite these incidents, the commander in charge, Gregory Bovino, said no one has been disciplined. He believes the agents followed the rules. However, Balliet thinks the lack of accountability could damage the public's trust in law enforcement. He said it could take years to repair the divide this has created. The DHS has responded by saying agents are trained to use the minimum amount of force necessary. They also mentioned that protesters have thrown objects at agents and damaged their vehicles. Despite these dangers, the agency claims their law enforcement shows restraint.