ACLU Launches Hotlines to Report Federal Immigration Agent Abuse in Region

Imperial County residents who believe federal immigration agents have violated their rights now have a direct line to report it: 760-645-9335.

The ACLU Foundation of San Diego & Imperial Counties launched that Imperial County hotline alongside a separate San Diego County line, 619-467-1663, on March 17 as part of a new confidential reporting initiative it calls the Federal Law Enforcement Abuse Reporting Hotline. An online form is also available at intake.aclu-sdic.org/ice.

The organization cited what it described as "a surge of civil rights violations occurring nationwide" as the catalyst for standing up the two lines. Reports will go through a confidential legal intake process designed to evaluate and document alleged misconduct by ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and other federal law enforcement agencies. Calls will be reviewed specifically to track and build a record of potential constitutional violations in the region.

The types of conduct the ACLU is seeking to document include harassment, use of force, racial profiling, warrantless stops, detention, and unlawful contact. The initiative covers two distinct populations: people detained by federal immigration agencies and people who were lawfully exercising First Amendment rights when they encountered federal agents.

The launch carries particular weight in Imperial County, which sits within the 100-mile border zone where CBP, ICE, and Border Patrol maintain a consistent and high-profile presence.

Frederick Carroll, ACLUF-SDIC's legal director, addressed the current enforcement climate directly in a statement. "Despite what this administration wants us to believe, ICE, Border Patrol and federal agents are not above the law," Carroll said. "Nothing about our constitutional protections has changed. We must demand real accountability when federal agents harm members of our communities. We encourage folks to share this hotline with community members and call us if your rights have been violated by these federal agents."

The organization has not disclosed staffing hours for either line or whether reports will be used to pursue litigation or shared with federal oversight bodies.