As ICE expands, an AP review of crimes committed by agents shows how their powers can be abused

https://apnews.com/article/ice-agents-arrested-misconduct-crimes-abuse-corruption-45b0d2248c0add9523e0bf5a953faaea

As ICE expands, an AP review of crimes committed by agents shows how their powers can be abused
By RYAN J. FOLEY
Updated 11:28 PM CST, February 10, 2026

Investigators said one immigration enforcement official got away with physically assaulting his girlfriend for years. Another admitted he repeatedly sexually abused a woman in his custody. A third is charged with taking bribes to remove detention orders on people targeted for deportation.

At least two dozen U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees and contractors have been charged with crimes since 2020, and their documented wrongdoing includes patterns of physical and sexual abuse, corruption and other abuses of authority, a review by The Associated Press found.

While most of the cases happened before Congress voted last year to give ICE $75 billion to hire more agents and detain more people, experts say these kinds of crimes could accelerate given the sheer volume of new employees and their empowerment to use aggressive tactics to arrest and deport people.

The Trump administration has emboldened agents by arguing they have “absolute immunity” for their actions on duty and by weakening oversight. One judge recently suggested that ICE was developing a troubling culture of lawlessness, while experts have questioned whether job applicants are getting enough vetting and training.

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