Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and Customs and Border Protection officials will assist local law enforcement agencies handling ongoing George Floyd protests, Axios reports.
Immigration agency officials told Axios that ICE and CBP agents have been deployed to help the Federal Protective Service guard buildings and facilities where protests have become violent and destructive.
“Border Patrol Sectors are working with law enforcement partners across our nation to prevent further looting, rioting, arson, vandalism & destruction of property,” acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Mark Morgan tweeted. “As a federal law enforcement agency, it’s our duty & responsibility to respond when our partners request support.”
People have been gathering to bring awareness to the death of a black man by a white police officer in Minneapolis. In many cities, the demonstrations have resulted in people being injured and businesses being looted. Several cities, including Minneapolis, have asked for other agencies to assist with protests that get out of hand.
ICE will not carry out immigration enforcement at protests, but officers will be able to make criminal arrests, agents told Axios.
ICE "fully respects the rights of all people to peacefully express their opinions," ICE spokesperson Danielle Bennet said in statement.
Neither agency provided details on how many agents or resources have been allocated to help aid local police officers in dealing with protests.
"It would not be appropriate to disclose law enforcement operational specifics, which could jeopardize operational security," CBP spokesperson Stephanie Malin said in a statement.
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