Is ICE a Paramilitary Force? Critics Warn of Rising Militarization in U.S.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a federal agency under the Department of Homeland Security, has faced growing scrutiny over its militarized approach to policing. Critics, including politicians and journalists, have labelled the agency a 'paramilitary force' due to its tactics and operations. Recent deployments during protests have further fuelled concerns about its role and oversight.
ICE operates differently from state police forces, with no U.S. state creating its own paramilitary unit since ICE's formation after the 9/11 attacks. The agency has instead expanded its reach across states like Minnesota, Illinois, and California.
Research suggests that militarized policing often leads to higher rates of violence and rights violations. ICE's actions in 2020—such as its involvement in Black Lives Matter protests in Washington, DC, and Portland, Oregon—have drawn comparisons to authoritarian tactics. Journalist Radley Balko claimed that former President Donald Trump used ICE 'the way an authoritarian uses a paramilitary force.' Representative John Mannion went further, calling the agency 'a personal paramilitary unit of the president.'
Erica De Bruin, a professor specialising in policing and security forces, notes that ICE meets some but not all definitions of a paramilitary group. Its operations sometimes resemble those of repressive political agents, lacking the same level of professionalism and oversight as traditional law enforcement. New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie described ICE as a 'virtual secret police' and a 'paramilitary enforcer of despotic rule.'
Tensions have also arisen between ICE and local authorities. In Minneapolis, clashes between the agency and civilian police highlighted the risks of overlapping militarized forces.
The debate over ICE's role continues as its militarized methods raise questions about accountability and civil liberties. While the agency remains a federal tool, its actions in political contexts have intensified calls for reform. No state-level equivalents exist, leaving ICE as a unique—and controversial—force in U.S. policing.
