National Lawyers Guild Condemns DHS’s Violence and Killings

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues its violent practices, resulting in death across the U.S. Their actions are impacting the lives of everyday people, our neighbors, and immigrant communities. NLG members from our Portland chapter, alongside the ACLU, won a Temporary Restraining Order against ICE's widespread use of chemical weapons. In Chicago, federal agents used chemical weapons at least 49 times on protesters, in violation of orders from judges. Earlier this week, Immigration Customs and Enforcement's (ICE) actions led to the death of Linda Davis, a school teacher in Georgia.This is the latest in a string of deaths related to DHS's, ICE's, and Customs and Border Patrol's (CBP) campaign of terror.

Keith Porter was murdered at his apartment complex in Northridge, California, after an off-duty ICE agent shot and killed him. ICE shot Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, hitting one of them in the leg, after accusing them of assaulting an agent. It turned out they lied under oath. In Chicago, Silvero Villegas-Gonzalez was shot and killed by ICE, after initial reports claimed the ICE agent feared for his life. News reports claim that the ICE agent described his own injuries as "nothing major".

Renee Nicole Good was killed by ICE in her car for doing the constitutionally protected action of observing law enforcement. Alex Pretti was also killed in broad daylight by CBP officers, because he was recording them. These incidents are not an anomaly. They are designed to cause terror and fear. The message is clear: DHS, ICE, and CBP agents can get away with any violence, and the Trump administration is happy to let them do it.

This is an escalation of who is deserving of violence: since 2004, ICE has been responsible for over 250 deaths inside of its cages. Over 30 occurred just last year, making it one of the deadliest years in ICE detention. The majority of these deaths go underreported, likely because the typical victims of ICE are Black and brown immigrants. Nonetheless, the outrage even reached the 2026 Winter Olympics, where ICE agents were strangely assisting with security in Italy.

The NLG emphasizes that what we are experiencing today is part of a U.S. legacy of anti-Black and anti-indigenous State violence, met with impunity throughout history. Additionally, the normalization of imperialist horrors that we see in Gaza, Venezuela and elsewhere continue to lay the groundwork for domestic, unfettered State repression.

The NLG continues its calls to abolish ICE and to end the occupation of our cities. We demand that these masked agents immediately stop the State-directed racial profiling, excessive force, wrongful detainment, and killings of civilians, regardless of their immigration or citizenship status.