What is the CBP policy on use of force and firing at a moving vehicle
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Executive summary
Customs and Border Protection’s written use-of-force doctrine bars officers from firing at a moving vehicle merely because it is fleeing and permits deadly force only when the officer reasonably believes someone is using deadly force—this standard mirrors broader DOJ/DHS guidance that firearms not be discharged solely to disable vehicles and that alternatives be used when possible [1] [2] [3]. CBP reinforced limits in its formal Use of Force Policy and related reviews, and advisory reports have urged stricter application and training after past incidents where agents shot into or at vehicles [4] [5] [6].
1. What the rule actually says: limited authorization, not a blank check
CBP’s Use of Force policy and handbooks explicitly state a moving vehicle by itself does not justify deadly force and that agents “shall not discharge their firearms at a moving vehicle unless the agent has a reasonable belief, based on the totality of the circumstances, that deadly force is being used against an agent or another person