Amid rising tensions towards law enforcement, a number of ICE officers and border patrol agents express that their once-respected roles have now made them vulnerable targets.
An ICE officer, who requested anonymity, highlighted the peril he and his fellow officers feel in the current social environment.
“I’ve always been proud of my role, but now, with everyone seeming to criticize us, even my family feels uneasy mentioning what I do for a living.”
He notes that online threats and personal information leaks, known as doxing, have become common. The Department of Homeland Security has documented a staggering 1000% spike in attacks and assaults against federal personnel.
The officer rebuked the notion that protests are merely peaceful.
“When you see protesters show up with knee pads, shields, gas masks you realize these aren’t peaceful demonstrations anymore.”
But the greater threat, he believes, is the possibility of trouble moving from the streets to his home.
“We deal with danger every day. I signed up for this. My family didn’t,” he said.
In Chicago, skirmishes between demonstrators and federal law enforcement have become frequent following the deployment of additional resources by the Trump administration in the sanctuary city to uphold immigration policies. Recently, a judge ruled that the Department of Homeland Security must cease using tear gas and pepper spray against journalists.
Despite resistance from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and some citizens against the presence of National Guard troops and border agents in Chicago, one Border Patrol agent expressed his “pride” in contributing to the Trump administration’s goals.
“People call us Nazis or Gestapo, but what they don’t see is our medics caring for the injured. We treat everyone like human beings,” the anonymous agent said.
He also rejected the use of masks as anything other than a protective mechanism for officers and agents.
“Someone can take a picture and find everything about your family. That’s why we cover our faces; it’s for them.”
