From a USA Today article entitled Immigration shootings fit growing pattern (Jan. 14, 2026
Immigration agents have fired upon at least 10 people since August, USA TODAY has found. In each case, agents shot at drivers or into moving cars – a practice that has largely been discouraged by law enforcement because of risks to public safety.
Footage of the incidents shows agents swarming vehicles, smashing windows and trying to pry open car doors within seconds of approaching drivers. On multiple occasions, body camera video and cell phone footage has contradicted federal officials' initial claims about the shootings.
The Department of Homeland Security and federal prosecutors defended the agents and accused drivers of trying to run them over. Of the four drivers charged by federal prosecutors, three have had their charges dropped, court records show.
Similarities between the various shootings have raised concerns among public officials, judges and policing experts over the aggressive tactics used by federal agents nationwide.
“There seems to be a pattern of shoot into vehicles and then justify it by saying the vehicles are trying to run them over,” said Geoffrey Alpert, a professor of criminology at the University of South Carolina who specializes in the use of deadly force.
Alpert and former law enforcement officials said many of the tactics being used by federal agents – from reaching into vehicles to stepping into the path of cars – are in stark contrast to well-known policing standards.
“The growing number of incidents where we see agents resorting to deadly force without any reasonable basis is a recipe for disaster,” said David Harris, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania who focuses on police procedure. “These actions don’t reflect the current thinking of law enforcement generally or best practices.”
In many ways, the deadly shooting in Minneapolis resembles Martinez's shooting in Chicago by a Border Patrol agent. In that case in October, DHS authorities said Martinez “ambushed” federal agents and “rammed” officers with her car.
Like the shooting in Minneapolis, agency officials within hours described Martinez, who has no criminal history, and another person initially charged in the incident as “domestic terrorists."
“We will not allow domestic terrorists to attack our law enforcement,” McLaughlin said in a statement at the time. “If you lay a hand on law enforcement, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
But after a few weeks in court, the case fell apart, leading the Justice Department to drop the charges. The case was ultimately dismissed in November.
In court, the agent walked back the Department of Homeland Security’s initial claims that the officers were “rammed” by Martinez. “To me, ramming is the front of a vehicle striking another vehicle. And that is not what happened,” the agent said, according to a transcript of an evidentiary hearing Nov. 5.
Exhibits presented in court show the Border Patrol agent, Charles Exum, apparently bragging about the shooting in a Signal group chat with other federal officers.
“I fired 5 rounds and she had 7 holes. Put that in your book boys,” Exum wrote. In court he explained the text by saying “I'm a firearms instructor. And I take pride in my shooting skills,” according to a transcript of an evidentiary hearing in November.
In reaction to being deployed to another city, Exum wrote in another chat, “Cool. I’m up for another round of ‘(f---) around and find out’” – a reference to FAFO, internet slang that has become a fixture of social media posts and statements by officials in the Trump administration.
When asked about the meaning of that text, which was sent less than 72 hours after the shooting, the agent told the court, “I would be up for another round of ... that means illegal actions have legal consequences.”
No one should doubt that there are a significant number of psychopaths employed by ICE. But then we have a psychopath sitting in the White House threatening to invoke the Resurrection Act and hinting that the 2026 elections aren't needed because he is doing such a "great job."
I think there needs to be support for the Buddhist monks walking for peace because everything is interrelated. More actions not just words. Major actions such was found with the work off Corrie Weiss and Grace Paley.
'... anybody who's not distraught, anybody who's not worried, anybody who's not furious, is either not paying attention or they have been sucked into the authoritarian takeover. Because if they're part of the authoritarian takeover, they have never felt so good. They feel great. Their hero is in power and their enemies are being defeated. And so this is ecstatic for them. I mean, literally, it's hard for people like you and me to understand. But there are people who have never felt as good as they feel when they see Stephen Miller on television or they see Donald Trump flick the bird at somebody. This is what has made them come alive, you know. ... ' How can we pray for those who 'come alive' when they can be cruel?
Back in March when we were still reeling from the first wave of Trump 2.0, I had my BP taken. It was quite a bit higher than usual. The nurse asked me what was going on. I told her I did not like what was happening in our country, and her response was, "Try not to let it bother you." If this does not bother you, you are not paying attention.
I was having nonstop anxiety attacks as soon as due process was ignored. My primary care doctor said limit your exposure to 15 minutes at a time. I appreciated her understanding.
From outside the USA - it is very urgent that Americans approach their Congress members about the illegal behaviour of Federal Officers. Also, please, on behalf of the world, please also ask Congress to pre-emptively stop the warlike Trump from invading Greenland.
ICE is making cruel sport of knocking people to the ground, especially when they can “blindside” the victim. This is likely to cause serious injury. Intentional harm of citizens and immigrants. It is meant to look like occupation and it is.
From a USA Today article entitled Immigration shootings fit growing pattern (Jan. 14, 2026
Immigration agents have fired upon at least 10 people since August, USA TODAY has found. In each case, agents shot at drivers or into moving cars – a practice that has largely been discouraged by law enforcement because of risks to public safety.
Footage of the incidents shows agents swarming vehicles, smashing windows and trying to pry open car doors within seconds of approaching drivers. On multiple occasions, body camera video and cell phone footage has contradicted federal officials' initial claims about the shootings.
The Department of Homeland Security and federal prosecutors defended the agents and accused drivers of trying to run them over. Of the four drivers charged by federal prosecutors, three have had their charges dropped, court records show.
Similarities between the various shootings have raised concerns among public officials, judges and policing experts over the aggressive tactics used by federal agents nationwide.
“There seems to be a pattern of shoot into vehicles and then justify it by saying the vehicles are trying to run them over,” said Geoffrey Alpert, a professor of criminology at the University of South Carolina who specializes in the use of deadly force.
Alpert and former law enforcement officials said many of the tactics being used by federal agents – from reaching into vehicles to stepping into the path of cars – are in stark contrast to well-known policing standards.
“The growing number of incidents where we see agents resorting to deadly force without any reasonable basis is a recipe for disaster,” said David Harris, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania who focuses on police procedure. “These actions don’t reflect the current thinking of law enforcement generally or best practices.”
In many ways, the deadly shooting in Minneapolis resembles Martinez's shooting in Chicago by a Border Patrol agent. In that case in October, DHS authorities said Martinez “ambushed” federal agents and “rammed” officers with her car.
Like the shooting in Minneapolis, agency officials within hours described Martinez, who has no criminal history, and another person initially charged in the incident as “domestic terrorists."
“We will not allow domestic terrorists to attack our law enforcement,” McLaughlin said in a statement at the time. “If you lay a hand on law enforcement, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
But after a few weeks in court, the case fell apart, leading the Justice Department to drop the charges. The case was ultimately dismissed in November.
In court, the agent walked back the Department of Homeland Security’s initial claims that the officers were “rammed” by Martinez. “To me, ramming is the front of a vehicle striking another vehicle. And that is not what happened,” the agent said, according to a transcript of an evidentiary hearing Nov. 5.
Exhibits presented in court show the Border Patrol agent, Charles Exum, apparently bragging about the shooting in a Signal group chat with other federal officers.
“I fired 5 rounds and she had 7 holes. Put that in your book boys,” Exum wrote. In court he explained the text by saying “I'm a firearms instructor. And I take pride in my shooting skills,” according to a transcript of an evidentiary hearing in November.
In reaction to being deployed to another city, Exum wrote in another chat, “Cool. I’m up for another round of ‘(f---) around and find out’” – a reference to FAFO, internet slang that has become a fixture of social media posts and statements by officials in the Trump administration.
When asked about the meaning of that text, which was sent less than 72 hours after the shooting, the agent told the court, “I would be up for another round of ... that means illegal actions have legal consequences.”
“And you're up for it?” Parente asked.
“That's my job,” Exum replied.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/01/14/immigration-agents-shootings-ice-border-patrol/88156239007/
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No one should doubt that there are a significant number of psychopaths employed by ICE. But then we have a psychopath sitting in the White House threatening to invoke the Resurrection Act and hinting that the 2026 elections aren't needed because he is doing such a "great job."
"People of the book" need to band together in this season...
https://open.substack.com/pub/jonathanbrownson/p/my-no-kings-day?r=gdp9j&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
I think there needs to be support for the Buddhist monks walking for peace because everything is interrelated. More actions not just words. Major actions such was found with the work off Corrie Weiss and Grace Paley.
Brian McLaren and Diana Butler Bass in conversation, reported by Brian here: https://substack.com/home/post/p-184592061
'... anybody who's not distraught, anybody who's not worried, anybody who's not furious, is either not paying attention or they have been sucked into the authoritarian takeover. Because if they're part of the authoritarian takeover, they have never felt so good. They feel great. Their hero is in power and their enemies are being defeated. And so this is ecstatic for them. I mean, literally, it's hard for people like you and me to understand. But there are people who have never felt as good as they feel when they see Stephen Miller on television or they see Donald Trump flick the bird at somebody. This is what has made them come alive, you know. ... ' How can we pray for those who 'come alive' when they can be cruel?
Back in March when we were still reeling from the first wave of Trump 2.0, I had my BP taken. It was quite a bit higher than usual. The nurse asked me what was going on. I told her I did not like what was happening in our country, and her response was, "Try not to let it bother you." If this does not bother you, you are not paying attention.
I was having nonstop anxiety attacks as soon as due process was ignored. My primary care doctor said limit your exposure to 15 minutes at a time. I appreciated her understanding.
From outside the USA - it is very urgent that Americans approach their Congress members about the illegal behaviour of Federal Officers. Also, please, on behalf of the world, please also ask Congress to pre-emptively stop the warlike Trump from invading Greenland.
ICE is making cruel sport of knocking people to the ground, especially when they can “blindside” the victim. This is likely to cause serious injury. Intentional harm of citizens and immigrants. It is meant to look like occupation and it is.