Amnesty calls for US immigration agency ICE to be abolished
The human rights organisation bases its call on a new report about raids, detention and protests in four US cities.
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Amnesty International is calling on the United States to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE. In a new report, the organisation says it has documented recurring human rights violations during large-scale immigration operations.
The report covers operations in Chicago, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, New Orleans and Washington. According to its own explanation, Amnesty examined arrests, detention, surveillance and action against protests, among other matters. The organisation says the problems described are not isolated, but stem from the way immigration enforcement is organised.
Amnesty accuses federal agencies of arbitrary detention, intimidating conduct, unjustified use of force, inadequate legal protection and the use of facial recognition, among other things. According to the organisation, some allegations should be investigated further as possible serious violations of international law.
The organisation draws a far-reaching conclusion from this: according to Amnesty, ICE cannot be reformed but must disappear. Immigration enforcement duties would then have to be reorganised under stronger human rights safeguards.
The publication is a report by a human rights organisation, not a judicial finding. Amnesty describes interviews and its own research, but the report does not prove that each individual allegation has been established in court. The public sources consulted also lack a full response from ICE to all the findings.
The call comes amid a political debate in which supporters of tough immigration enforcement see ICE as an instrument against illegal entry and residence. Opponents argue that the agency’s powers and methods create structural risks for legal protection and minorities. The question is therefore both legal and political: reform, restrict or abolish.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Amnesty published a report on immigration enforcement in four US cities.
- The organisation is calling for ICE to be abolished.
- The allegations in the report have not all been established in court.
Left
Arguments An agency that, according to human rights organisations, structurally undermines legal protection should not simply be given more resources. Immigration enforcement must be placed under civil and human rights oversight.
Values Equal treatment, legal protection and the protection of vulnerable people.
Consequences Abolition could offer a fresh start, but would require a credible alternative for implementing immigration decisions.
Centre
Arguments The government has the right to enforce immigration laws, but this requires clear powers, independent oversight and an effective complaints procedure.
Values The rule of law, administrative continuity and proportionality.
Consequences Targeted reforms could address abuses without abruptly dismantling an entire agency.
Right
Arguments A state must be able to monitor its borders and return people who have exhausted their legal avenues. Criticism of implementation should not lead to the abolition of a necessary enforcement agency.
Values Public order, border control and compliance with democratically established rules.
Consequences Abolition could weaken enforcement and place additional pressure on other police services.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved with corrections · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The publication and Amnesty’s call have been confirmed. Claims about specific human rights violations have been qualified as Amnesty’s allegations and findings because they have not all been independently or judicially established.
- confirmed Amnesty published a report on 24 September about US immigration operations. — Confirmed by Amnesty International USA. source
- confirmed Amnesty is calling for ICE to be abolished. — This is the organisation’s explicit recommendation. source
- confirmed The investigation covers four US cities. — Chicago, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, New Orleans and Washington are named. source
- uncertain The abuses described have been legally proven. — The report contains Amnesty’s findings and allegations, not judicial findings. source
1 correction(s) applied
- Was: Amnesty documented human rights violations by federal agencies.Now: Amnesty says it documented human rights violations by federal agencies. (The findings have not been independently or judicially established in every individual case.)
Editor's note
It is certain that Amnesty published a new report and wants ICE abolished. The abuses described are Amnesty’s findings and allegations; without full independent verification, they are not presented as definitively established facts.Sources
- Amnesty International Calls for ICE to Be Abolished — Amnesty International USA
- USA: ICE muss aufgelöst werden — Amnesty International Duitsland
- ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees — Associated Press
More on this in Dutch media
- Het Parool — „ice amnesty international”
- Trouw — „ice amnesty international”
- NRC — „ice amnesty international”