HuffPost reported on allegations that the U.S.Department of Homeland Security (DHS) pressured undocumented immigrants, including witnesses to an ICE shooting, to self-deport.

The DHS denied these claims, calling HuffPost's reporting 'categorically false' and accusing the outlet of prioritizing clicks over facts.The story details how families of detained witnesses claim their loved ones faced coercion to abandon legal immigration cases.An attorney representing the detainees disputes the government's assertion that the victim weaponized his vehicle during the incident.

The article also highlights broader patterns of DHS policies aimed at deterring undocumented immigrants, such as threats of prolonged detention for children and harsh detention centers like Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz.' Former Secretary Kristi Noem warned migrants to leave the U.S.or face imprisonment, a tactic repeated in El Salvador.Critics argue these measures rely on fear to enforce immigration laws, undermining due process and legal rights.