Internal ICE documents prove it knows agents' actions 'deeply problematic': watchdog

Documents recently released by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency show employees are aware its practices against members of the public are problematic.

Chioma Chukwu, the executive director of American Oversight, confirmed the group had received fresh documents from ICE following a Freedom of Information request. The documents, Chukwu told Politico, paint a "deeply troubling picture of the violent methods used by ICE."

Also featured is a slide deck noting ICE approval to enter homes without a warrant from the administration.

Politico columnist Eric Bazail-Eimil wrote, "A slide deck from July included notes about the administration’s controversial move to allow ICE to enter homes with only an administrative warrant — ones issued by an agency, not a court — in order to apprehend and deport unauthorized immigrants with final orders of removal.

"The slides contradicted the guidance of a May memo from [Todd] Lyons, which said that agents could use I-205 forms — which apply to those with final orders of removal authorizing an immigrant’s deportation from the United States — to enter homes."

Those slides were deemed "under review" according to instructor notes featured in the slide deck, which was finalized in July 2025. Bazail-Eimil added, "That suggests that the policy was not as iron-tight as previously believed.

"The administration has said it has the legal basis to enter homes with only administrative warrants. Congressional Democrats have insisted ICE still needs a warrant signed by a judge to enter homes."

The discrepancies, Chukwu believes, "suggest ICE knows its practices are deeply problematic — and is deliberately hiding the ball to avoid public scrutiny."

The practices discovered in the new documents contrast with Kristi Noem's recent statement, with the US Secretary of Homeland Security backing ICE in January this year.

She said on Jan. 15, "Our ICE agents are following the law and are running their operations according to training." Further findings from the documents indicate ICE is aware of the more aggressive tactics in recent months.

Bazail-Eimil added, "The emails and incident reports show that cases of ICE and Border Patrol using force go beyond isolated instances circulating on social media and surges in major cities such as Minneapolis.

"They also show that agency leadership has been aware that nationwide, the agency’s officers are using more aggressive tactics as the Trump administration has sought to increase the number of deportations of unauthorized immigrants."