The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported a significant surge in violence against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, citing a sharp increase from the prior year under the Biden administration. From January 21 through November 21, DHS recorded 238 assaults on ICE officers, up from 19 during the same timeframe in 2024. The sharp rise is tied to public ‘rhetoric’ from sanctuary-jurisdiction officials, with officials warning that such language could fuel further violence.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin emphasized the need for sanctuary officials to tone down the rhetoric, cautioning that it could lead to more attacks on law enforcement. ‘Sanctuary politicians need to tone the rhetoric down before a law enforcement officer is killed,’ McLaughlin 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.’
The violence has escalated dramatically, with officers facing a range of attacks during arrests, including hitting, spitting, kicking, and biting. More severe incidents include vehicle ramming, gunfire, and Molotov cocktail attacks. In one incident, an officer was struck in the face with a metal coffee cup, leading to a lip laceration requiring 13 stitches.
The department has documented several recent incidents, including an alleged vehicle attack on an ICE officer in Homestead, Florida, and an ambush at a detention center where 10 individuals opened fire. The DHS press release highlighted that these incidents demonstrate how ICE officers are being targeted because of the badge they wear, not just their enforcement operations. The department stressed that any attack on these officers is an attack on the rule of law itself.