Federal immigration officers have shot 11 people since September, with most incidents involving officers firing into cars-a tactic policing experts have long tried to curb.
At a Glance
- ICE and CBP officers shot 11 people since September 2025
- Seven shootings involved officers firing at moving vehicles
- Three people died; investigations remain largely undisclosed
- Why it matters: Pattern raises concerns about federal immigration enforcement tactics in communities nationwide
The vehicle shootings have alarmed policing experts as the Department of Homeland Security expands deportation operations across American communities. Officers regularly appear in videos clashing with both undocumented immigrants and citizens protesting arrests.
“These are not one-offs,” said Jim Bueermann, former Redlands, California police chief and current head of the Future Policing Institute. “This is clearly developing into a pattern and practice of how they deal with people in the enforcement of immigration laws, and to me that’s the most alarming thing we’re seeing.”
Officers Say Lives Were at Risk
DHS maintains officers believed their lives were in danger during each shooting. In several incidents, officers sustained injuries.
“The pattern is NOT of law enforcement using deadly force. It’s a pattern of vehicles being used as weapons by violent agitators to attack our law enforcement,” said Tricia McLaughlin, DHS Assistant Secretary. “Dangerous criminals-whether they be illegal aliens or U.S. citizens-are assaulting law enforcement and turning their vehicles into weapons to attack law enforcement.”
The 10 documented shootings show varied circumstances as ICE and CBP officers conduct President Trump’s immigration crackdown. Officers have raided homes and workplaces, approached people in courthouses and stores, and stopped individuals on streets. A protest movement has emerged to resist these operations, leading to confrontations.
Those shot include suspected criminals, immigrants lacking permanent legal status, and U.S. citizens. Federal authorities have not disclosed how many shootings have been fully investigated or whether any findings have determined if gunfire was justified or resulted in officer discipline.
Vehicle Shootings Raise Training Concerns
Seven cases involved officers shooting because they believed moving cars posed threats. Chris Burbank, former Salt Lake City police chief who has helped the Justice Department investigate civil rights abuses, expressed concern about repeated federal immigration officers firing on drivers.
Since the 1990s, police departments have tried curbing such shootings by adopting new standards for dealing with motorists. The movement was largely driven by cases where people were needlessly injured or killed when officers claimed fear of being run over.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Police Executive Research Forum published guidelines aiming to prevent officers from positioning themselves in front of or behind vehicles and limit when officers could open fire.
DHS has been a focus of these efforts. A 2013 Police Executive Research Forum report indicated CBP officers were deliberately putting themselves in cars’ paths, “exposing themselves to additional risk and creating justification for the use of deadly force.” The group recommended teaching officers that shooting at cars is dangerous and should be avoided.
Current DHS policy prohibits officers from firing at moving vehicles unless they have “reasonable belief” that drivers pose imminent threats of death or serious injury. Officers must consider hazards of out-of-control cars, according to policy.
“I wonder whether officers are being trained on that policy,” Burbank said. Based on his experience and recent ICE conduct observations, including several shootings, Burbank felt “there is not a lot of training, not a lot of accountability going on, and you have the feeling of ‘do your jobs at all costs.’ That takes away your ability to de-escalate.”
Federal Investigations Remain Opaque
DHS requires every use of force incident and firearm discharge to be reported and reviewed. All shootings are examined by “an appropriate law enforcement agency,” followed by internal ICE review, according to McLaughlin.
DHS has not provided updates on internal investigations. The FBI, reviewing at least some encounters, does not discuss investigations publicly.
In at least four cases, people shot by agents faced criminal charges, though two cases were later dismissed.
Shooting Incidents by Location
| Location | Date | Individual Shot | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Park, IL | Sept 12, 2025 | Silverio Villegas González | Killed |
| Chicago | Oct 4, 2025 | Marimar Martinez | Injured, charges dismissed |
| Los Angeles | Oct 21, 2025 | Carlitos Ricardo Parias | Injured, charges dismissed |
| Phoenix | Oct 29, 2025 | Jose Garcia-Sorto | Injured, no charges |
| Ontario, CA | Oct 30, 2025 | Carlos Jimenez | Injured, awaiting trial |
| Starr County, TX | Dec 11, 2025 | Isaias Sanchez Barboza | Killed |
| Glen Burnie, MD | Dec 24, 2025 | Tiago Alexandre Sousa-Martins | Injured, no charges |
| Minneapolis | Jan 7, 2026 | Renee Good | Killed |
| Portland, OR | Jan 8, 2026 | Luis David Nino Moncada & Yorlenys Zambrano-Contreras | Both injured |
| Minneapolis | Jan 14, 2026 | Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis | Injured |
Key Takeaways
- Federal immigration officers have shot 11 people since September 2025, with most incidents involving vehicles
- Three people have died from these shootings
- Investigations remain largely undisclosed to the public
- Policing experts express alarm about the pattern of vehicle shootings
- DHS maintains officers acted in self-defense when lives were threatened
