Federal immigration officers are strapping deportees into full-body restraint devices for up to 16 hours during deportation flights, even when those individuals pose no apparent threat and are already shackled at the hands and feet.
The WRAP: From Police Tool to Deportation Device
The full-body restraint device known as “the WRAP” was originally designed for law enforcement to safely immobilize combative individuals or those at risk of self-harm. The mesh and nylon device encases a person’s torso and legs, severely limiting movement. ICE has increasingly deployed this tool during deportation operations under both Trump and Biden administrations, applying it to individuals who were already restrained with traditional shackles.
Texas A&M law professor Fatma Marouf warns that prolonged use crosses ethical boundaries: “This should be a last resort type of restraint after they’ve already tried other things. Just being bound up like that can inflict a lot of psychological harm.” The device’s transition from emergency police response to routine deportation procedure raises fundamental questions about proportional force in immigration enforcement.
Documented Cases of Extended Restraint
Recent lawsuits reveal disturbing patterns of WRAP usage during deportation flights. Nigerian and Salvadoran deportees report being confined in the devices for entire transcontinental journeys, denied access to bathrooms, and experiencing circulation problems from prolonged immobilization. Court documents describe instances where deportees suffered injuries, including allegations of broken bones, while restrained for hours without medical attention.
These cases illuminate a troubling disconnect between the device’s intended emergency use and its application as standard deportation protocol. Video evidence and witness testimony suggest ICE officers lack proper training on appropriate usage thresholds, leading to deployment against non-violent individuals who present no immediate safety risk to crew or other passengers.
Institutional Silence and Accountability Gaps
ICE’s consistent refusal to respond to media inquiries or provide public comment on WRAP usage creates a transparency vacuum that undermines public oversight. This institutional silence becomes particularly problematic when deportees, often lacking legal representation and facing language barriers, have limited recourse to challenge their treatment through official channels.
The Department of Homeland Security’s own watchdog division has expressed concerns about safety protocols, yet meaningful reform remains elusive. Federal courts now serve as the primary venue for accountability, with multiple lawsuits challenging ICE’s restraint practices advancing through the judicial system.
The Human Cost of Bureaucratic Excess
Beyond the immediate physical discomfort, prolonged restraint inflicts psychological trauma that mental health professionals warn can persist long after deportation. The practice transforms what should be administrative transportation into a punitive ordeal, raising serious questions about cruel and unusual treatment within immigration enforcement.
These revelations demand immediate congressional oversight and policy reform. American values of human dignity and proportional government response cannot coexist with the routine torture of individuals who pose no threat. ICE must establish clear guidelines, provide proper officer training, and submit to independent oversight that ensures restraint devices serve legitimate security purposes rather than becoming tools of institutional cruelty.