The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Monday a dramatic increase in assaults against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, reporting a staggering rise of over 1,150% from the previous year under the Biden administration.
Between January 21 and November 21, DHS documented 238 incidents of ICE officers being attacked, a significant jump from just 19 cases during the equivalent period in 2024.
Officials have attributed this alarming trend to the “rhetoric” prevalent among sanctuary city officials, cautioning that such discourse might incite additional violence.
“Sanctuary politicians need to lower the temperature of their rhetoric before a tragedy occurs,” stated Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “They ought to be expressing gratitude to these courageous law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line daily to remove pedophiles, rapists, murderers, gang members, and terrorists from our communities.”
According to DHS, one ICE agent suffered a facial injury requiring 13 stitches after being hit with a metal object.
“In the wake of months where Democrat politicians have equated ICE with Nazis, the Gestapo, slave patrols, and have even encouraged illegal aliens to resist arrest, our valiant ICE officers have faced 238 assaults,” McLaughlin continued.
According to DHS, officers across the department have faced “a dangerously escalating pattern” of violence in recent months — ranging from hitting, spitting, kicking and biting during arrests to vehicle ramming, gunfire and Molotov cocktail attacks.
DHS said the violence has included one officer being struck in the face with a metal coffee cup, resulting in a lip laceration that required 13 stitches. Another officer was left bleeding from the head and suffered a concussion while arresting a criminal illegal alien.
An ICE officer sustained a head injury during an operation, one of over 230 reported assaults on agents this year. (Department of Homeland Security)
“Our law enforcement officers have had Molotov cocktails and rocks thrown at them, been shot at, had cars used as weapons against them, and been physically assaulted,” McLaughlin said.
In September, Guatemalan national Henry Isaul Garcia allegedly reversed his vehicle into an ICE agent’s leg during an attempted arrest in Homestead, Florida, nearly crushing the officer.
Earlier in the summer, Benjamin Hanil Song, a former U.S. Marine Corps reservist, was allegedly part of an organized July 4 ambush on federal officers at the Prairieland Detention Center, where at least 10 individuals opened fire.
A wrecked vehicle is seen after a collision with an ICE agent during an attempted arrest during a traffic stop. (Department of Homeland Security)
In June, fugitive Eric Anthony Rodriguez, who has a lengthy criminal record, reportedly attempted to attack officers with a Molotov cocktail at a hotel near Los Angeles International Airport where 15 ICE and 12 CBP officers were staying. Rodriguez had several prior convictions, including assault with a deadly weapon and second-degree robbery.
“These nationwide incidents show how ICE officers are being targeted because of the badge they wear, not just the enforcement operations they execute on behalf of the American people,” DHS said in a press release.
The department added that any attack on those who enforce the nation’s laws amounts to an attack on the rule of law itself.
