Two civilians killed in ICE raids as records show Brampton firm supplied armoured vehicles
Two Minneapolis residents were killed during recent ICE operations. Procurement records show Brampton defence company Roshel supplied tactical vehicles as US detention numbers hit a record 73,000.
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By Torontoer Staff
Two civilians were shot and killed during recent US Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Minneapolis, and public records show a Brampton defence manufacturer supplied armoured tactical vehicles to the agency. The developments come as ICE detention numbers reached a record high of about 73,000 people.
The deaths and the vehicle procurement have drawn renewed scrutiny of ICE tactics, oversight, and the companies that supply equipment to the agency.
What happened in Minneapolis
Footage and reporting from recent raids in Minneapolis show aggressive enforcement actions that included the detention of a five-year-old who was moved to a detention facility in Texas after officers removed his father from their home. Over the weekend, ICE agents shot Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse who had been recording agents with his phone. CBC analysis reported that agents removed Pretti’s gun while he was on the ground and shot him ten times while he was unarmed.
He was not a threat. A group of reckless and poorly trained agents essentially murdered a man.
Daniel Brunner, retired FBI agent
Earlier in the month, ICE agents shot and killed Renee Good, a poet and mother, after she tried to follow conflicting orders about moving her car and exiting a street. Both cases have heightened calls for clearer use-of-force standards and independent investigations of ICE conduct.
Where the vehicles came from
Procurement records reviewed by CBC show that Brampton-based defence firm Roshel was contracted to supply a $10-million rush order of 20 tactical vehicles to ICE to "support agents in the field." The contract notes that Roshel had immediate availability and could meet technical requirements within the required period of performance.
Roshel is uniquely positioned to fulfil this requirement within the necessary time frame, having confirmed immediate availability of vehicles that fully meet ICE’s specifications.
ICE Office of Acquisition Management, procurement records
The records indicate other suppliers were consulted but could not supply the full order within the timeframe or meet all technical specifications. The contract was described as a rush order, reflecting the agency’s urgent operational needs.
Detention numbers and broader context
The scale of recent operations comes as the number of people in ICE custody has climbed. The Guardian reported about 68,440 people in detention as of mid-December, noting that nearly three quarters had no criminal convictions. More recently, CBS News reported the number in ICE custody and facing deportation has reached roughly 73,000, the highest figure in agency history.
- Reported ICE detention population: approximately 73,000, a record high.
- December figures reported by The Guardian: about 68,440 detained, with nearly 75 percent lacking criminal convictions.
- Roshel contract: $10-million for 20 tactical armoured vehicles, described as a rush order in procurement records.
Advocates and legal observers have argued the rising detention population, aggressive raid tactics, and the use of armoured vehicles create additional pressures for oversight, transparency, and policy review at federal and local levels.
Responses and questions raised
Reporting on the procurement and the Minneapolis incidents has prompted questions about the role of private defence suppliers, export and sales oversight, and how equipment provided to US agencies is used in domestic enforcement. Roshel and Canadian federal agencies have not released public statements through the sources reviewed for this report.
Families of the victims, local advocates, and some legal experts have called for independent investigations into the shootings. Lawmakers in the United States have also said they will review the operations and procurement practices that supplied equipment used during raids.
What to watch next
Expect continued reporting on the official investigations into the shootings, congressional inquiries into ICE practices, and scrutiny of defence contractors that supply tactical equipment. Observers will also monitor legal challenges and any policy changes around use of force and detention operations.
The procurement records and the rising detention numbers together have renewed public attention on how law enforcement operations are equipped and conducted, and on the oversight mechanisms that govern both.
ICERoshelBramptonimmigrationdetention
