TL;DR
ProPublica identified more than 40 incidents over the past year in which immigration agents used chokeholds, carotid restraints, or knee-on-neck tactics that can restrict breathing. Videos include U.S. citizens and minors; officials have defended agents while the reporting found no clear evidence of disciplinary action.
What happened
An investigation by ProPublica compiled over 40 video-documented incidents in which immigration agents employed chokeholds, carotid holds, knee restraints or prolonged face-down control during arrests over roughly the past year. The reporting includes multiple cases in which agents appeared to use maneuvers that the Department of Homeland Security has prohibited except when deadly force is authorized. Among the incidents described are a 10th-grade U.S. citizen, Arnoldo Bazan, who says an agent put him in a chokehold during the arrest of his father in Houston, and Carlos Sebastian Zapata Rivera, who was subjected to a carotid hold in Massachusetts and began convulsing. Many of the officers in the footage wore masks and unmarked gear. Former federal and local law-enforcement trainers who reviewed the videos called the tactics dangerous and inappropriate. DHS and White House spokespeople defended officers’ training and professionalism, while ProPublica found no evidence of systematic tracking or publicized punishments for the uses of these restraints.
Why it matters
- Tactics that restrict breathing carry a high risk of serious injury or death and have been banned or limited by many agencies.
- The reported incidents include citizens and minors, raising civil‑liberties and public‑safety concerns.
- Lack of transparent tracking or visible discipline undermines oversight of federal immigration enforcement.
- Renewed use of these maneuvers during expanded deportation operations raises questions about training, supervision and policy adherence.
Key facts
- ProPublica identified more than 40 cases over about a year featuring chokeholds or other breathing‑restricting moves by immigration agents.
- In nearly 20 of those cases agents appeared to use neck restraints that DHS prohibits unless deadly force is authorized.
- About two dozen videos showed officers kneeling on people’s necks or backs or holding people face down while already handcuffed.
- A 10th grader, Arnoldo Bazan, reported being placed in a chokehold during an arrest in Houston; his father is named Arnulfo Bazan Carrillo.
- In Massachusetts, Carlos Sebastian Zapata Rivera was reportedly subjected to a carotid hold and then convulsed.
- ProPublica reviewed footage with former police and immigration officials who said the actions were improper and risky.
- DHS banned chokeholds and similar tactics in 2023; the reporting found no public record of punishments tied to the incidents compiled.
- The reporting draws on legal filings, social media posts and local press reports in both English and Spanish.
What to watch next
- Whether DHS or internal disciplinary processes result in firings, suspensions or other penalties for agents involved (not confirmed in the source).
- Any federal or congressional inquiries that might require agencies to track and report uses of neck restraints or similar tactics (not confirmed in the source).
- Release of additional body‑camera or surveillance footage and local investigative findings tied to specific incidents described in the reporting.
Quick glossary
- Chokehold: A restraint that compresses the neck and can block air or blood flow; many agencies ban or strictly limit its use.
- Carotid hold: A technique intended to briefly restrict blood flow to the brain by compressing the carotid arteries; it can cause loss of consciousness and is controversial.
- Deadly force: Force that is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury; policies often permit otherwise-prohibited tactics only when deadly force is authorized.
- Body‑worn camera: A camera worn by an officer to record interactions with the public; footage can be central to investigations and oversight.
Reader FAQ
How many incidents did ProPublica find?
ProPublica compiled more than 40 cases over the past year.
Were agents disciplined for using these tactics?
The reporting found no public evidence of systematic punishment for the incidents documented.
Has DHS banned chokeholds?
According to the reporting, DHS formally banned chokeholds and similar tactics in 2023 except when deadly force is authorized.
Was a minor’s iPhone seized and later found in a used-electronics vending machine?
not confirmed in the source
Mark Harris for ProPublica. Source images: Ryan Murphy/Getty Images, Union del Barrio, The Oregonian, @the_moxie_report, Raphael Talisman. Mark Harris for ProPublica. Source images: Ryan Murphy/Getty Images, Union del Barrio, The…
Sources
- Minor says ICE took his iPhone, later found in used-electronics vending machine
- Immigration agents are using banned chokeholds to make …
- ProPublica — Investigative Journalism and News in the Public …
- The Data Doesn't Lie: How ProPublica Reports the Truth in …
Related posts
- Require companies to open-source software when hardware hits end-of-life
- When hardware hits EOL, companies should release the software
- Why the Yarn Spinner Team Refuses to Use AI in Product and Development