Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are facing a dramatic surge in violence—up 500 percent—during enforcement operations, according to newly released Department of Homeland Security (DHS) data obtained by Breitbart News. Officials attribute the increase in assaults to growing hostility fueled by left-wing politicians targeting federal agents.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin confirmed the escalation and pointed to a recent incident involving Roberto Carlos Munoz, a convicted child sex offender and illegal alien. Munoz dragged an ICE officer 50 yards with his vehicle in Bloomington, Minnesota while attempting to flee arrest.
“Every day the men and women of ICE put their lives on the line to protect and defend the lives of American citizens,” said McLaughlin. She warned that political attacks on ICE are inciting real-world violence against agents.
McLaughlin criticized several Democrat leaders by name, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. These officials have either likened ICE officers to Nazi agents or threatened to publicly identify them.
Jeffries recently vowed to “identify every single” ICE officer involved in what he described as “aggressive overreach,” stating, “no matter what it takes, no matter how long it takes.” McLaughlin condemned the rhetoric as “despicable,” blaming such statements for encouraging physical assaults.
In recent weeks, Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) was indicted for allegedly obstructing ICE officers during an arrest at a detention facility in Newark. Separately, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is considering charges against New York City Comptroller Brad Lander for allegedly assaulting an ICE agent while interfering in an arrest.
ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations agents are tasked with detaining individuals who are in the country unlawfully, often with serious criminal histories. Despite this, local and state officials in sanctuary jurisdictions continue to block or undermine federal enforcement efforts.
According to DHS, this pattern of political interference not only hampers immigration law enforcement but places federal officers at direct risk. The 500 percent increase in assaults reflects the growing hostility toward ICE agents who are fulfilling their legal responsibilities under U.S. immigration law.
