Assaults against ICE agents linked to hostile political rhetoric surge 500%

06/24/2025 / By Ava Grace

Assaults on ICE officers during operations have increased by 500 percent, with agents facing unprecedented dangers, including physical attacks and vehicular assaults.
High-profile Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and several mayors, have compared ICE to Nazis and vowed to expose agents, which DHS says fuels hostility and violence.
Elected officials and activists have interfered with ICE operations, while viral videos track agent movements, raising safety concerns.
The politicization of ICE mirrors past anti-law enforcement eras, but current rhetoric from leaders legitimizes resistance. Officers now wear masks for protection, not anonymity.
DHS demands Democratic leaders retract inflammatory statements, warning that their rhetoric endangers agents and undermines national security.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are facing a staggering 500 percent increase in violent assaults during enforcement operations, according to newly released Department of Homeland Security (DHS) data.

The surge coincides with escalating political rhetoric from prominent Democrats, who have repeatedly vilified federal agents. These politicians have compared ICE agents merely enforcing the law to Nazis and vowing to expose their identities.

As tensions rise, DHS officials warn that inflammatory statements from elected leaders are emboldening attacks against law enforcement. This, in turn, puts lives at risk and undermines national security.

The statistics paint a grim picture: Assaults on ICE agents during arrests and deportations have skyrocketed over the past year. In one harrowing incident, a convicted child sex offender in Minnesota dragged an officer 50 yards with his car while resisting arrest. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin described the case as emblematic of the dangers agents now face daily. (Related: ICE deports 122 illegal immigrants to China, including individuals convicted of serious crimes.)

DHS officials argue that the hostility isn’t spontaneous; it’s being stoked by high-profile Democrats. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York state recently vowed to expose the identities of ICE agents, framing their work as “aggressive overreach.” Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz have likened ICE to Nazi-era secret police, while Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has criticized enforcement actions as sowing “terror” in communities.

“The violent targeting of law enforcement in LA by lawless rioters is despicable and Mayor Bass and Gov. Newsom must call for it to end,” McLaughlin said in a statement. “The men and women of ICE put their lives on the line to protect and defend the lives of American citizens.”

The hostility isn’t limited to words; in New Jersey, Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver was indicted for allegedly interfering with an ICE arrest. In New York City, the Big Apple’s comptroller Brad Lander faces potential charges for obstructing agents during an operation. Meanwhile, viral videos show activists and even elected officials tracking ICE movements, raising concerns about officer safety.

Democrats’ rhetoric fueling the fire

The demonization of ICE isn’t new. Since the agency’s creation in 2003, it has been a lightning rod in the immigration debate. But the current wave of antagonism mirrors past eras when law enforcement became politicized such as the 1960s, when anti-police sentiment led to violent clashes.

The difference now, experts say, is that the hostility is being amplified by elected officials, lending legitimacy to resistance. Behind the statistics are real officers facing unprecedented risks.

Many now wear masks during operations – not to evade accountability as critics claim, but to protect themselves from retaliation. DHS reports a 413 percent rise in assaults in Los Angeles alone, where anti-ICE riots have erupted. Agents describe being pelted with rocks, surrounded by hostile crowds and doxxed online.

DHS is demanding that Democratic leaders dial back their rhetoric. McLaughlin singled out Jeffries, Wu, Walz and Bass, accusing them of fostering an environment where violence thrives. She asked: “These politicians must choose: Will they uphold the rule of law, or will they continue inciting chaos?”

As assaults on ICE agents reach historic levels, the crisis has become a litmus test for America’s commitment to law and order. One thing is clear: the safety of federal officers — and the integrity of immigration enforcement — hangs in the balance.

Watch border czar Tom Homan discussing the anti-ICE protests in LA during a Fox News appearance.

Tjis video is from the Rick Langley channel on Brighteon.com.