More than two dozen Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicles patrolling the Minneapolis-St. Paul area are currently "inoperable" due to a lack of necessary emergency lights and sirens, according to a federal contract justification published this week.
As a result, ICE is paying Whelen Engineering Company $47,330.49 for 31 ATLAS1 kits – an emergency warning and lighting technology product that's supposed to enable the vehicles to be immediately operational and compliant with law enforcement requirements. The document explains that these kits would "allow vehicles to be immediately operational" in support of Homeland Security Investigations' (HSI) surge operation out of its St. Paul office, which is responsible for operations in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
According to the contract justification, HSI agents are currently using these vehicles without necessary emergency lights and sirens, which makes them "non-compliant" with federal regulations. The justification adds that HSI needs the ATLAS kits to ensure its officers' operational readiness, law enforcement officer safety, and public safety during high-risk operations.
In a statement to WIRED, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said ICE vehicles "meet federal regulations for law enforcement." She also claimed that ICE officers clearly identify themselves as law enforcement by wearing masks to protect themselves from being targeted by sophisticated gangs.
Meanwhile, Minnesota state law requires law enforcement and emergency drivers to sound an audible signal by siren and have at least one red light on the front of the vehicle.
As a result, ICE is paying Whelen Engineering Company $47,330.49 for 31 ATLAS1 kits – an emergency warning and lighting technology product that's supposed to enable the vehicles to be immediately operational and compliant with law enforcement requirements. The document explains that these kits would "allow vehicles to be immediately operational" in support of Homeland Security Investigations' (HSI) surge operation out of its St. Paul office, which is responsible for operations in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
According to the contract justification, HSI agents are currently using these vehicles without necessary emergency lights and sirens, which makes them "non-compliant" with federal regulations. The justification adds that HSI needs the ATLAS kits to ensure its officers' operational readiness, law enforcement officer safety, and public safety during high-risk operations.
In a statement to WIRED, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said ICE vehicles "meet federal regulations for law enforcement." She also claimed that ICE officers clearly identify themselves as law enforcement by wearing masks to protect themselves from being targeted by sophisticated gangs.
Meanwhile, Minnesota state law requires law enforcement and emergency drivers to sound an audible signal by siren and have at least one red light on the front of the vehicle.
. And btw, masks to identify yourself as law enforcement? Yeah, I've got a great idea – just wear a cape and a "I'm a cop" sign on your forehead 
. Can't they just use their actual faces to scare people? 
and to think they're paying $47k for some fancy technology that's supposed to fix the problem 
meanwhile, Minnesota state law has been clear about this stuff for years... what's the deal with all these 'justifications' from DHS? can't we just have straight answers for once? 
I mean, think about it - over 2 dozen ICE vehicles are 'inoperable' just because they don't have the right emergency lights? Like, who needs that many vehicles patrolling an area, right? 
Sounds like a total safety precaution to me! 
And yeah, I get it, they need the ATLAS kits to be compliant with federal regulations, but shouldn't that've been a priority from the start? Like, public safety is a big deal and all, but what about the actual laws in Minnesota state, like needing sirens and red lights on the front of the vehicle? 
its also kinda funny that the department of homeland security is saying ice vehicles meet federal regulations while at the same time having to pay for some basic safety features. guess you could say hesitating to acknowledge the problem a bit 
seriously though, $47k for emergency lights and sirens is a small price to pay considering how often these vehicles are out there "patrolling" the streets. I mean, we all know the real question is why they didn't just add those basic features in the first place... 
and the fact that Whelen Engineering Co is getting paid $47k for emergency kits... it feels like just another waste of taxpayer dollars 
Minnesota state law says you need a siren and at least one red light on the front of your vehicle, but ICE is like "yeah no problem" 
where they just cruise around without warning anyone 
. and now they're paying 47k for emergency kits... it's like, come on! shouldn't we have safety first? i mean, ice agents are supposed to be law enforcement but apparently not following the rules is cool 
. and what's up with wearing masks to identify themselves? sounds like a plot from 'Mr. Robot' 
where they just want to blend in and avoid being targeted