MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Diya TV) — The Trump administration is facing growing criticism after publicly declaring 16 shootings involving Department of Homeland Security officers “justified” before investigations were completed. The incidents, which occurred since July, involve agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection during immigration enforcement operations. At least 10 people were struck by gunfire. Three were killed. Four of those shot were U.S. citizens. The shootings have fueled a national debate over federal use of force, accountability, and political influence on law enforcement investigations.

Most of the shootings occurred during traffic stops or enforcement arrests in cities where federal immigration operations increased. These cities include Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and Washington, D.C.

In many cases, DHS officers fired at drivers during tense encounters. Federal officials often described the incidents as responses to “vehicular attacks” or threats to officer safety. However, court records, videos, and witness accounts later raised doubts about those claims. Despite the number of shootings, no ICE, Border Patrol, or Homeland Security Investigations officer has faced criminal charges. DHS has also not announced internal discipline related to the cases.

Legal experts and civil rights attorneys say the administration acted too quickly. They argue that officials defended officers publicly while prosecutors charged those who were shot. Former federal prosecutor Christopher Parente said the approach breaks with tradition. He said investigators usually gather evidence before filing charges. In several cases, judges later dismissed charges after videos contradicted the government’s version of events.

In four of the 10 cases where prosecutors filed felony charges, courts dropped them, or judges dismissed them outright.

Two fatal shootings in Minneapolis intensified the scrutiny. Federal officers killed Renée Good and Alex Pretti during enforcement operations. Administration officials labeled both as “domestic terrorists” within days. Video footage later challenged those claims. In Good’s case, footage showed an ICE officer firing from the side of her vehicle as it moved past him. In Pretti’s case, witnesses and video showed he did not draw his legally owned handgun before officers shot him.

Vice President JD Vance initially said officers had “absolute immunity” during federal duties. He later said officers who break the law would face discipline, but warned against public judgment before investigations end.

Federal officers enjoy broad legal protections. They can claim immunity when they use force during official duties and believe they face danger. Officers can also move state cases into federal court under the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause. Legal scholars say courts rarely test the limits of that immunity. Still, some state prosecutions remain possible under current law.

Christy Lopez, a former Justice Department official, said investigations require independence. She warned that early political statements can undermine public trust and the integrity of the process.

Several cases revealed gaps between DHS statements and later evidence. In Chicago, Border Patrol shot U.S. citizen Marimar Martinez five times during a traffic stop. Agents accused her of assault. Body camera footage later showed the agent ramming her car and threatening her before firing. A judge dismissed the charges.

In Maryland, DHS changed its account of a Christmas Eve shooting after county police found the passenger was already in ICE custody. In Washington, D.C., a judge dismissed charges after a police officer testified that no federal agent stood in front of the vehicle when shots were fired.

With criminal cases stalled, many victims have turned to civil courts. Attorneys are preparing lawsuits alleging excessive force, assault, and civil rights violations. Some say lawsuits offer the only path to accountability. Phillip Brown, a Washington resident shot at during a traffic stop, said he still fears driving months later. Charges against him were dismissed. Federal investigators never contacted him.

“I want them to take accountability,” Brown said.

As protests continue in major cities, the 16 DHS shootings now anchor a larger debate over immigration enforcement and the rule of law. Republican and Democratic leaders alike have raised concerns about transparency. Governors and local officials have called for independent investigations. Civil rights groups are demanding the release of body camera footage. The outcome of these cases could shape how federal law enforcement uses force—and how the public judges those actions—for years to come.