The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reports a 1,150% surge in violent assaults against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers over the past 11 months, attributing the rise to ‘sanctuary city’ rhetoric from politicians. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned the rhetoric, warning it could lead to fatal consequences.
According to DHS data, from Jan. 21 through Nov. 21, there were 238 violent attacks on ICE officers, compared to 19 during the same period in 2024. Officials have linked the sharp increase to public ‘rhetoric’ from sanctuary-jurisdiction officials, warning that such language could further exacerbate the threat. McLaughlin emphasized the need for such politicians to tone down their rhetoric before law enforcement officers face fatal consequences.
The attacks have ranged from physical assaults, such as biting and spitting during arrests, to more severe incidents such as vehicle ramming, gunfire, and Molotov cocktail attacks. One officer suffered a lip laceration requiring 13 stitches after being struck in the face with a metal coffee cup, while another suffered a concussion and head injury during an arrest.
DHS has also pointed to more recent incidents, such as the alleged vehicular attack in Homestead, Florida, where a Guatemalan national reversed his vehicle into an officer’s leg, nearly crushing them. Earlier in the summer, a former Marine reservist was involved in an organized ambush at a detention center where at least 10 individuals opened fire. In June, a fugitive with a criminal history attempted to attack officers with a Molotov cocktail at a hotel near Los Angeles International Airport.
The agency has stated that these nationwide incidents demonstrate how ICE officers are being targeted due to their badge, not their enforcement duties. DHS has warned that any attack on those enforcing the nation’s laws constitutes an attack on the rule of law itself. The department has emphasized the importance of upholding law and order, with McLaughlin calling for sanctuary politicians to cease their inflammatory rhetoric to protect law enforcement personnel from further violence.