Fact check: What types of firearms are ICE agents authorized to carry during enforcement actions?

1. What the claims say about who can carry what — succinct extraction of the central policy points

The core claims state that “Authorized Officers” (including HSI Special Agents and other ICE law‑enforcement personnel) are permitted to carry agency‑issued firearms and pre‑approved personally‑owned weapons while performing law‑enforcement duties, and that carriage is governed by explicit limits and badge/credential requirements. The policy restricts handgun carriage to a maximum of two pistols for most officers and up to three for Special Response Team members, permits shoulder‑fired weapons where authorized by the Assistant Director for OFTP, and requires officers to carry a badge, credentials, and any necessary restraining devices during planned enforcement actions. All firearms must be ICE‑issued or ICE‑approved and meet OFTP suitability criteria, placing authority and final approval with the Office of Firearms and Tactics Policy (OFTP) ^[1].

2. The specific weapons the handbook lists — models and tactical gear named

Appendix lists in the handbook identify specific handgun models and tactical weapons authorized for use. Approved pistols include a range of Glock models (17, 19, 26 — Gen 3/4 — plus MOS variants and Glock 43), SIG Sauer models (P320 variants and P365 series), and other ICE‑approved handguns. The policy authorizes shotguns for breaching and less‑lethal roles, and authorizes rifle platforms based on AR‑15/M16/M4 designs built to ICE specifications. Specialized precision and designated marksman rifles such as the Remington 700 and Knights SR‑25/MK11 platforms may be approved for tactical teams via written authorization. These enumerations frame a mix of standard patrol pistols and heavier tactical rifles tailored to team roles ^[2].

3. Rules of engagement, training and reporting — how use of force is constrained

ICE policy imposes procedural constraints: use of force must be objectively reasonable and necessary; officers must follow training, carriage, maintenance, and deployment requirements for intermediate force devices and firearms; and there are prescribed reporting procedures after any use‑of‑force incident. The Firearms and Use of Force Handbook and Directive 19009.3 consolidate these standards and require that EMDDs (electro‑muscular disruption devices, e.g., TASERs) and other intermediate weapons be carried only after certification, logged for maintenance, and reported when deployed. Directive 19009.3 is explicitly dated April 30, 2024, providing the most recent formal directive referenced in the materials ^{[2] [3] [4]}.

4. Where the documents agree and where questions remain — consistency and gaps

The documents present a consistent framework: authorization tied to role, equipment lists maintained in handbook appendices, and OFTP as gatekeeper for approvals. However, gaps remain in public summaries: several analyses are undated or reference appendices without full publication metadata, leaving uncertainty about the latest approved model lists or recent amendments. Tactical exemptions and written approvals for specialized weapons indicate that not all carriage authority is uniform; OFTP discretion can alter what specific officers may carry, and the public materials don’t show a continuous revision log for model approvals ^{[1] [2]}.

5. Multiple perspectives and potential institutional incentives to note

From an operational perspective, ICE emphasizes standardization, training, and reporting to support officer safety and accountability; from oversight and civil‑liberties viewpoints, the combination of tactical rifles and permissive approvals for personally‑owned, agency‑approved weapons raises questions about oversight, transparency, and public notice of changes in armament policy. The sources are internal directives and handbook material that reflect ICE’s institutional interest in operational flexibility and officer authority; external critics or oversight bodies may view such documents through a public‑safety and civil‑rights lens, calling for clearer public disclosure of approved equipment lists and amendment histories ^{[2] [3]}.

Conclusion: The handbook and directives together establish that ICE agents may carry a defined set of ICE‑issued or approved handguns, shotguns, rifles, and intermediate devices under role‑based limits and training requirements, with OFTP holding approval authority; the documents are internally consistent but lack full public metadata on revision timing, creating room for oversight scrutiny ^{[1] [2] [3]}.