Washington, D.C. — The recent tragic shootings involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers underscore the urgent need for a safer approach.
The temporary pause of ICE traffic stops would have been a good first step, and adequate training and vetting of newly hired ICE personnel are critical to prevent future incidents. The Forum and a Council on National Security and Immigration leader are urging the right balance of effective immigration enforcement and public safety.
“To the extent federal authorities must conduct traffic stops to advance public safety, proper training is essential. To ensure that stops are safe for all involved, ICE needs to evaluate what went wrong in these cases and improve training and appropriate personnel screening procedures for its deployed officers,” said Jennie Murray, President and CEO of the Forum.
“Traffic stops can be an important tool for law enforcement. Agencies must continually assess their tactics, techniques and procedures to ensure officers are carrying out their duties in the safest and most professional manner possible, mitigating risks to officers, the public, and the subjects being pursued,” said Manuel Padilla Jr., leader of the Council on National Security and Immigration. “We must remain focused on ensuring that our law enforcement professionals are organized, trained, and equipped to meet the dangerous and ever changing mission demands they face in the field.”