Private security guards employed by DHS can carry guns and make warrant-less arrests.

[pnwmom]

The Federal Protective Service, within the Department of Homeland Security, uses both Federal employees and employees of private security firms.

The FPA is involved with the stormtroopers in Portland now, and will be sending its agents to other cities, including Seattle.

https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RS22706.html?fbclid=IwAR2e454LOC2lBGEBFNSHcQWJ-owrp9Xs3LyC2Ufv3ZvGcTMJ0kGIhUqybSk

August 16, 2007 – August 20, 2009 RS22706

The Federal Protective Service (FPS)—within U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—is responsible for protecting federal government property, personnel, visitors, and customers, including property leased by the General Services Administration (GSA). FPS currently employs over 15,000 contract security guards to protect federal property.

Under current statutory provisions FPS officers are authorized to:

enforce federal laws and regulations to protect persons and federal property;
carry firearms;
make arrests without a warrant for any offense against the United States committed in the presence of an officer or for any federal felony;
serve warrants and subpoenas issued under the authority of the United States;
conduct investigations, on and off federal property, of offenses that may have been committed against the federal property or persons on the property; and
carry out other activities for the promotion of homeland security as the DHS Secretary may prescribe.7

[tblue37]

1. K&R for visibility. nt

[brooklynite]

2. Yes and no...

Private security hired by DHS can make arrests ON FEDERAL PROPERTY. Not in other locations.

[pnwmom]

3. Their authority seems broader than that, to me. Read this

Under current statutory provisions FPS officers are authorized to:

enforce federal laws and regulations to protect persons and federal property;
carry firearms;
make arrests without a warrant for any offense against the United States committed in the presence of an officer or for any federal felony;
serve warrants and subpoenas issued under the authority of the United States;
conduct investigations, on and off federal property, of offenses that may have been committed against the federal property or persons on the property; and
carry out other activities for the promotion of homeland security as the DHS Secretary may prescribe.7

[triron]

5. Thank you pnwmom

[pnwmom]

6. It's pretty scary. And now they're coming to Seattle, too, on a "proactive" basis. nt

[brooklynite]

8. This refers to FEDERAL PROTECTIVE SERVICE OFFICERS...

PRIVATE security guards working for FPS have other duties:

FPS contract security guard responsibilities include federal building access control, employee and visitor identification checks, security equipment monitoring, and roving patrols of the interior and exterior of federal property.1

[pnwmom]

10. You are more trusting than I, that the distinction of 2009 is still being upheld. n/t

[brooklynite]

11. Can you point to a lawsuit claiming unlawful arrest by a private security guard?

[pnwmom]

14. There are two lawsuits right now saying that the arrests weren't lawful. The DHS position

is that the arrests weren't really arrests. They weren't "custodial arrests" -- they just snatched people into unmarked vans and took them to unknown places.

Which seems very suspicious, doesn't it?

[brooklynite]

15. Actually, no...

Every Police Dept that dealt with a BLM protest did the same thing at some point. Swept up people who refused to move or leave, took them to a holding area, and then sorted out the paperwork later. No accusation that the individuals involved were not deputized law enforcement officers.

[pnwmom]

16. It's not "paperwork" to tell people why they're being arrested and inform them of their rights. nt

[brooklynite]

17. "If you don't disperse you will be arrested for....." generally addresses that issue.

[pnwmom]

19. Many people there are reporting that there was no warning before arrests,

Last edited Thu Jul 23, 2020, 11:12 PM - Edit history (1)

and the Mayor himself, who was there last night, said there was no warning before he was tear gassed.

Also, they weren't allowed to give orders to disperse a lawful assembly, which this was. Portland isn't under a curfew and the vast majority of demonstrators weren't on Federal property.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/19/politics/portland-mayor-protests-federal-agents-memo-riot-training/index.html

The Democratic mayor of Portland slammed the Trump administration on Sunday for its response to ongoing protests in the city, saying federal agents deployed there are denying protesters due process during arrests.

"The tactics that the Trump administration are using on the streets of Portland are abhorrent," Mayor Ted Wheeler told CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union."

"People are being literally scooped off the street into unmarked vans, rental cars, apparently. They are being denied probable cause. And they are denied due process. They don't even know who's pulling them into the vans. The people aren't identifying themselves. And, as far as I can see, this is completely unconstitutional," Wheeler said.

Demonstrators in Portland have been protesting racial inequality and police brutality for the past 50 nights, US Attorney Billy J. Williams said in a statement. Federal authorities have protected the Mark O. Hatfield US Courthouse and, at times, interaction between protesters and law enforcement has gotten violent. Last weekend, one protester was seriously injured after the man was shot in the head with impact munition.

[pnwmom]

20. Every police department that dealt with BLM did NOT put hoods over protesters heads

and drive them in unmarked vehicles to undisclosed locations, fail to read them their rights, and try to get them to talk without a lawyer.

[Ferrets are Cool]

4. Sadly, K and R

[TeamPooka]

7. Hi Fascism, long time no see.

[Frustratedlady]

9. Where are they getting the money for all these troops?

This can't be a cheap operation and surely had to be approved by someone. Congress didn't do it, did they? Whose name is on this?

We aren't talking about a dozen or so troops in one or two cities.

[NotANeocon]

12. Course they're mercenaries -

- but are they a legitimate election expense?

[Alex4Martinez]

13. K/R nt.

[Retrograde]

18. Anyone see Eric Prince lately?

How much of the funding for these mercenaries is going into his (and sister Betsy's) pockets?

[LakeArenal]

21. Can they do so as secret police or do the need to identify themselves

Through badge numbers or something?