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WaPo: ICE Guards Used Physical Violence or Deployed Chemical Agents on Jailed Immigrants

HeadlineMay 05, 2026

A new investigation by The Washington Post looks at the increasing use of force by guards against immigrants detained in ICE jails nationwide. The Post found nearly 800 cases in which ICE guards used physical violence or deployed chemical agents on jailed immigrants during Trump’s first year back in office — a 37% increase compared to the previous year. The skyrocketing use of force comes as the Trump administration packs ICE jails beyond their capacities as part of his mass deportation campaign. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security has shuttered its internal watchdog offices that tracked the abuse of immigrants in custody.

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