Keep Factually independent
Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.
Which firearm models and less-lethal tools are authorized for HSI agents versus ERO officers across ICE field offices?
Executive summary
Publicly available ICE policy documents and reporting show that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) both operate under ICE’s Firearms and Use of Force Handbook and related directives, which set approved duty and personally owned firearms lists, quarterly qualification, and authorized less‑lethal categories such as batons and chemical irritants [1] [2]. Recent reporting shows ICE has phased certain pistols (SIG P320) and was moving to Glocks for duty pistols, and numerous news outlets have documented ICE use of tear gas, pepper balls, 40mm launchers, flash‑bangs and other less‑lethal munitions in 2025 protests — but field‑by‑field model lists and per‑office distinctions are not fully published in the sources provided [3] [4] [5] [6] [7].
1. One agency manual, multiple components — who sets weapons policy?
ICE’s Firearms and Use of Force Handbook and related ICE directives govern authorized firearms, the list of approved personally owned weapons, qualification requirements, and the chain of oversight for firearms and use‑of‑force incidents; the Handbook names responsible officials for program oversight including HSI Special Agents in Charge and ERO Field Office Directors, indicating a single ICE framework applied across components [1].
2. Which pistols are officially “authorized” for HSI agents?
An HSI‑specific policy document lists “Authorized Firearms for Homeland Security Investigations” and notes ICE issues certain shoulder‑fired weapons and maintains an approved personally owned firearms list and an Approved Purchase Program; that document is the clearest source for HSI authorization but the snippet list in our sources does not enumerate each pistol model in full [2].
3. Which pistols are officially “authorized” for ERO officers?
The Handbook applies to ERO as well and mandates agency inspection and approval of personally owned duty weapons and quarterly qualification, but the public snippets do not provide a comprehensive, per‑model authorized list specific to ERO field offices in the materials supplied here [1]. Reporting and forum posts suggest ERO has authorized Glocks and moved toward 9mm platforms, but those are not ICE primary policy documents [8] [3].
4. Recent equipment changes in reporting — SIG P320 to Glock transition
Multiple reports and industry coverage indicate ICE discontinued SIG P320 authorization for field agents and planned procurement of Glock 19 9mm pistols for duty use, citing DHS acquisition postings and internal directives; this suggests a service‑wide procurement shift rather than a patchwork of office‑by‑office authorizations [4] [3].
5. Less‑lethal tools — what categories are authorized and documented in use?
ICE’s detention standards and the Handbook reference less‑lethal devices and restraints broadly (batons, chemical agents, launched projectiles) while journalism and court filings document on‑the‑ground deployment of tear gas/chemical irritants, pepper balls, 40mm launchers, less‑lethal shotguns, flash‑bangs and other projectiles during 2025 operations and protests [1] [5] [6] [7]. Congressional and CRS summaries used by news outlets list TASERs/CEDs, batons and projectile munitions as common law enforcement less‑lethal options [9] [10].
6. Variation across field offices — what do sources say about local differences?
Available sources do not provide a comprehensive, office‑by‑office inventory of which firearm models or less‑lethal devices each ICE field office is authorized to carry. The Handbook centralizes policy but local implementation, procurement orders and tactical decisions (e.g., crowd control deployments) appear in press coverage of specific operations rather than in a public, per‑office roster [1] [5] [6]. Forum posts and aftermarket reporting imply some variation and transition processes, but those are not official agency lists [8] [3].
7. Oversight, restrictions and legal limits reported during 2025 operations
Federal court actions in Chicago produced a temporary restraining order limiting use of riot control weapons (enjoining less‑lethal shotguns, 40mm launchers, pepper balls and tear gas absent immediate threat) and ordered ICE to explain deployments — showing courts can and have restricted deployment even when the Handbook authorizes categories of less‑lethal tools [6] [11].
8. What is not answered by available reporting?
Available sources do not mention a public, detailed matrix that lists every authorized firearm model and every less‑lethal munition for each ICE field office. If you need an exact, current per‑office inventory or the most recent approved personally‑owned weapons list, those specifics are not in the provided documents and would require direct ICE FOIA releases or agency procurement/field‑office confirmations [2] [1].
Conclusion and next steps: ICE’s central directives set categories and oversight for firearms and less‑lethal tools used by HSI and ERO, and reporting documents recent transitions (SIG → Glock) and extensive use of less‑lethal munitions in 2025. For a definitive, per‑field‑office breakdown of authorized models, request ICE’s current Authorized Firearms lists and field procurement records through FOIA or ask an ICE public affairs office for the latest approved‑weapons roster — those primary records are not contained in the sources provided [2] [1].