A new House bill introduced on Wednesday aims to prohibit the Department of Homeland Security from using a full-body restraint device known as the WRAP, following an Associated Press investigation that uncovered multiple instances of misuse and associated fatalities.
Legislation Targets Restraint Device Purchases and Oversight
The "Full Body Restraint Prohibition Act," sponsored by U.S. Representative Delia Ramirez, a Democrat from Illinois, would bar future purchases of the WRAP and establish stringent oversight and reporting requirements. In a statement, Ramirez emphasized that the device "fuels destruction in our communities and human suffering," positioning the bill as a step toward ending the pain and violence attributed to DHS practices.
AP Investigation Reveals Widespread Concerns
Ramirez cited an AP investigation that detailed how U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a component of DHS, has employed the WRAP on individuals during deportation flights since 2020, sometimes for extended periods. The investigation also identified a dozen fatal cases over the past decade where local police or jailers used the device, with autopsies indicating restraint played a role in the deaths.
Advocates have raised alarms that ICE is not adequately tracking the WRAP's usage as mandated by federal law when force is applied, complicating efforts to determine the exact number of people subjected to these restraints. Additionally, the AP found that ICE has continued to use the device despite internal concerns highlighted in a 2023 DHS civil rights division report, partly due to reports of deaths involving local law enforcement.
Manufacturer Defends Device Amid Legal Scrutiny
Manufactured by California-based Safe Restraints Inc., the WRAP has become the focus of several federal lawsuits that compare its improper use to punishment or torture. Company CEO Charles Hammond defended the device, stating it was designed as a "safer, more humane, pain-free alternative to other restraint methods." He warned that eliminating the WRAP could lead to a return to tactics proven to cause pain, injury, or fatalities.
Hammond noted that a modified version was created for ICE to accommodate use during flights and long bus trips. However, the AP investigation revealed that ICE officials often deploy the WRAP under a much lower threshold than recommended by the manufacturer. Detainees interviewed reported being placed in the restraints after already being shackled, often as intimidation or punishment for actions such as requesting legal counsel or expressing fear about deportation to violent regions.
Financial and Political Context of WRAP Usage
Federal purchasing records show that DHS has paid Safe Restraints Inc. $268,523 since late 2015, with about 91% of that spending occurring during the two Trump administrations. DHS has not responded to detailed questions from the AP regarding the WRAP's use or the new bill. Following the AP's investigation in October, a group of 11 Democratic U.S. senators wrote to top immigration officials, citing serious human rights concerns over ICE's use of full-body restraints on deportation flights.
This legislative move underscores growing scrutiny over restraint practices within immigration enforcement, driven by investigative journalism and advocacy efforts aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in federal agencies.
