More than two dozen current and former employees of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have faced criminal charges since 2020, including allegations of assault, sexual abuse, bribery and misuse of authority, according to a review of public records by Associated Press. The findings come as the agency has rapidly expanded its workforce and broadened enforcement operations nationwide.
The Associated Press reported that at least 17 ICE employees and contractors have been convicted in that period, while six more are awaiting trial. Nine additional agents have recently been charged, including one accused of assaulting a protester near Chicago last month. The cases span multiple states and include both field officers and supervisory personnel.
The allegations range widely:
- Physical assault and domestic violence
- Sexual abuse of detainees
- Bribery involving immigration detainers
- Attempted enticement of minors
- Misuse of government vehicles and firearms
In Louisiana, an ICE contractor pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a detainee over five months, instructing others to act as lookouts. In Texas, a senior official at a detention facility received probation after grabbing a detainee by the neck and slamming him into a wall.
A judge in one domestic violence case described an ICE official as a "volatile and violent individual." In Cincinnati, a 20-year ICE veteran was jailed after attempting to strangle his girlfriend, causing serious injuries. ICE officials said he is considered absent without leave.
Corruption allegations have also surfaced. In Houston, a deportation officer was indicted for accepting cash bribes from bail bondsmen in exchange for removing detainers on clients. In New York, a supervisor allegedly provided confidential information in exchange for gifts. Both cases remain pending.
Some incidents have drawn national attention. In 2022, ICE supervisor Koby Williams was arrested while attempting to meet what he believed was a 13-year-old girl. Authorities said he arrived in a government vehicle carrying cash, alcohol, pills and his badge, claiming he was there to "rescue" the girl. He was later convicted.
Recent fatal shootings involving ICE agents in Minneapolis and Los Angeles have further intensified scrutiny. In Minneapolis, officers shot protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti. In Los Angeles, an off-duty ICE agent fatally shot Keith Porter on New Year's Eve.
The agency's rapid growth has compounded concerns. ICE expanded to more than 22,000 employees in less than a year, more than doubling its size. Gil Kerlikowske, former commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, warned that agents are "vulnerable to unnecessary use of force issues" given their frequent operations in tense public settings.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said ICE "takes allegations of misconduct by its employees extremely seriously." She added that most new hires undergo background checks, many coming from other law enforcement agencies.
Critics argue that weakened oversight and assertions of expansive enforcement authority may have emboldened misconduct. David Bier of the Cato Institute predicted that ICE's disciplinary challenges could become a "countrywide phenomenon" as recruitment accelerates.
