DHS Attributes 1,150% Surge in Violence Against ICE Agents to Sanctuary City Rhetoric
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reported a sharp rise in violent attacks against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, with a 1,150% surge in assaults compared to the same period last year. From January 21 through November 21, DHS recorded 238 violent incidents against ICE personnel, a significant jump from the 19 assaults reported in 2024. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin attributed these attacks to ‘sanctuary city rhetoric,’ emphasizing that such inflammatory language could exacerbate the violence.
The incidents span a range of aggressions, including physical assaults, vehicle ramming, and attacks with Molotov cocktails. Recent events in Florida and California underscore the ongoing threat facing law enforcement, with incidents such as a vehicle ramming in Homestead and an ambush at a detention center in July. The department warned that these attacks not only endanger officers but also undermine the rule of law by targeting those who enforce it.
McLaughlin’s remarks came after a series of high-profile attacks on ICE officers, including an incident in which a Guatemalan national allegedly reversed his vehicle into an officer’s leg during an attempted arrest in Homestead, Florida, nearly crushing the officer. Another incident involved a former U.S. Marine Corps reservist who was reportedly part of an organized July 4 ambush at the Prairieland Detention Center, where at least 10 individuals opened fire. In June, a fugitive with a lengthy criminal record attempted to attack officers with a Molotov cocktail at a hotel near Los Angeles International Airport, where 15 ICE and 12 CBP officers were staying.
DHS officials stated that these attacks are not only endangering officers but also represent an assault on the very foundation of U.S. law enforcement. “These incidents show how ICE officers are being targeted because of the badge they wear, not just the enforcement operations they execute on behalf of the American people,” the department said in a press release. The agency added that any attack on those who enforce the nation’s laws amounts to an attack on the rule of law itself.
The increased violence has prompted calls for greater support and protection for law enforcement, with McLaughlin urging sanctuary city officials to tone down their rhetoric. “Sanctuary politicians need to tone the rhetoric down before a law enforcement officer is killed,” she said. “They should be thanking these brave law enforcement officers who risk their lives every single day to arrest pedophiles, rapists, murderers, gang members, and terrorists from our neighborhoods.” Her comments come amid growing concerns about the safety of law enforcement nationwide, as incidents of violence against officers continue to rise.