Park Police’s Secret Role in ICE Arrests Exposed
U.S. Park Police are accused of secretly collaborating with ICE by conducting traffic stops to facilitate immigration arrests without warrants.Summary
A class-action lawsuit and investigative reporting have revealed that U.S. Park Police have been collaborating with ICE agents to conduct immigration arrests in the D.C. area. Court records show that Park Police have been pulling over migrant workers, particularly those driving commercial vehicles, and handing them over to ICE without warrants or probable cause. Attorneys representing plaintiffs in the case allege profiling, citing instances where Latino men in work trucks were targeted.
Despite claims from Park Police that stops are made solely for traffic and public safety reasons, evidence suggests a coordinated effort stemming from a Trump-era executive order aimed at improving safety in Washington D.C. ICE agents have been observed scanning licenses and detaining individuals with no criminal records or outstanding warrants. The ACLU notes this pattern aligns with similar practices documented nationwide, where routine legal authorities are used to question immigration status.
The White House defended the arrangement, while Park Police maintain they do not engage in immigration enforcement. However, advocates believe the documented arrests represent only a fraction of the total, with plaintiffs in the lawsuit citing fears of retaliation and using pseudonyms.
(Source：The Daily Beast)