Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are facing a dramatic surge in violence, with assaults on officers increasing by 500 percent.
According to a report by Breitbart, newly released Department of Homeland Security (DHS) data displayed the staggering increase in assaults against ICE officers. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin confirmed the sharp rise to the outlet, attributing it to growing hostility against federal immigration officers during enforcement operations.
“Today, the Department of Homeland Security released new data revealing that ICE law enforcement is now facing a 500% increase in assaults while carrying out enforcement operations,” McLaughlin said.
One recent example involved the arrest of Roberto Carlos Munoz, an illegal immigrant and convicted child sex offender. Munoz reportedly dragged an ICE officer 50 yards with a vehicle in Minnesota while resisting arrest.
“Just this week, an ICE officer was dragged 50 yards by a car while arresting an illegal alien sex offender. Every day the men and women of ICE put their lives on the line to protect and defend the lives of American citizens,” McLaughlin explained.
McLaughlin also blamed political rhetoric from prominent leaders for contributing to the hostile environment. She pointed to past statements by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass that were perceived as threatening toward immigration officials.
“Hakeem Jeffries, Mayor Wu of Boston, Governor Tim Walz, and Mayor Bass of Los Angeles are contributing to the surge in assaults of our ICE officers through their repeated vilification and demonization of ICE,” McLaughlin said. “From comparisons to the modern-day Nazi gestapo to glorifying rioters, the violent rhetoric of these sanctuary politicians is despicable. This violence against ICE must end.”
The report follows a recent altercation in Portland, Oregon, where Antifa demonstrators clashed with ICE personnel outside a federal facility. Agents deployed crowd control measures as protesters attempted to block entrances and exits. Other cities have also seen unrest targeting ICE operations, leading to further injuries among officers.
