Congress Might Give ICE the Power to Go After Shoplifters

A proposed bill in Congress could grant Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) expanded law enforcement capabilities to combat what it calls "organized retail crime," including shoplifting. The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA), introduced last year by Senator Chuck Grassley with bipartisan support, aims to address the alleged surge in large-scale shoplifting carried out by criminal gangs that may also engage in drug and weapons trafficking, human smuggling, and other nefarious activities.

If passed, ICE would establish an "Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center" to centralize data and coordinate efforts with other federal agencies such as the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Secret Service. Civil liberties groups, however, are concerned that this expansion of DHS and ICE's powers would lead to increased surveillance and potential misuse of personal data collected from retail establishments.

Critics argue that ICE's record of lawlessness and lack of accountability makes it unsuitable for such a role. The bill's proponents contend that it will safeguard the integrity of the economy, but opponents contend that organized retail theft is a misnomer for a more common criminal act.