The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reported a sharp increase in violent attacks on 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, up from 19 in the same timeframe in 2024. Officials attributed this rise to the ‘rhetoric’ from sanctuary-jurisdiction politicians, warning that inflammatory language could potentially drive more violence against law enforcement.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin emphasized the need for sanctuary politicians to ‘tone down the rhetoric’ to prevent further attacks, pointing to the escalation of threats faced by officers. The surge includes a range of attacks, from physical assaults to vehicle ramming and Molotov cocktail attacks, which officials said have included incidents such as being struck with a coffee cup, resulting in injuries requiring medical attention. The DHS press release highlighted that any attack on officers representing the nation’s laws is an attack on the rule of law itself.