The United States Department of Homeland Security called on July 15 for sanctuary politicians, agitators, and the media to reduce violent rhetoric against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, citing a significant increase in vehicle attacks against federal law enforcement officers.
Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said, “Every day, the brave men and women of ICE and CBP put their lives on the line to protect the American people and remove criminal illegal aliens from our communities. Yet, because of the dangerous smears and hoaxes spread by sanctuary politicians, our officers are facing a 3,300% increase in vehicle attacks by illegal aliens and anti-ICE agitators. We are once again calling on sanctuary politicians, agitators, and the media to turn the temperature down and stop calling for violence and resistance against ICE law enforcement.”
The department listed several examples of what it described as hateful rhetoric from elected officials. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz compared ICE to a “modern-day Gestapo.” Jasmine Crockett compared ICE to “slave patrols…disappearing people based on their skin color,” also accusing ICE of “turning us into Nazi Germany.” Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker claimed that the United States is “essentially” becoming Nazi Germany because of ICE’s actions. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu compared mask-wearing ICE agents to a Neo-Nazi group. Becca Balint referred to ICE law enforcement officers as “vigilantes” engaging in “kidnapping.” Other officials cited include Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hosting a webinar with tips for illegal aliens to evade arrest; Dan Goldman posting an online video urging illegal aliens to make plans for encounters with ICE; Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issuing multilingual flyers advising how to evade arrest; California Governor Gavin Newsom releasing guides about recognizing or blocking entry by ICE; Shri Thanedar introducing legislation called Abolish ICE Act; and Ilhan Omar delivering a House floor speech calling for abolishing ICE.
Homeland Security also detailed recent incidents involving vehicle attacks against federal officers that it linked with such rhetoric. On April 2 in Baltimore, Maryland, an illegal alien from Honduras attempted escape using his vehicle, sending two officers to hospital before being arrested by authorities. On January 13 in San Antonio, Texas, an illegal alien from Cuba rammed two official vehicles before being detained. Other incidents included assaults in Elgin (Illinois), Adelphi (Maryland), Chicago (Illinois), Bensenville (Illinois), Norridge (Illinois), and Homestead (Florida) between September 2025 through April 2026—all resulting in arrests following vehicular assaults targeting immigration enforcement personnel.
The statement concluded with calls for public figures to refrain from language perceived as inciting violence or resistance toward federal immigration authorities.