The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reported a significant increase in threats and assaults against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. According to DHS, death threats directed at ICE personnel have risen by 8,000%, while assaults have increased by more than 1,300%. These figures reflect the risks faced by officers as they carry out duties such as removing individuals convicted of serious crimes from communities.
A recent example provided by DHS included a threatening voicemail left for an ICE officer in Minnesota on January 24. The message contained explicit language and violent wishes toward the officer and their family.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement addressing these incidents: “Our ICE law enforcement officers are now facing an 8,000% increase in death threats against them and a more than 1,300% increase in assaults against them while they risk their lives every single day to remove murderers, pedophiles, rapists, terrorists, and gang members from American neighborhoods. Make no mistake, threatening rhetoric and this unprecedented violence against our law enforcement is incited by sanctuary politicians through their repeated vilification and demonization of law enforcement. Comparing ICE day-in and day-out to the Nazi Gestapo, the Secret Police, and slave patrols has consequences. The men and women of ICE are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters. They get up every morning to try and make our communities safer. Like everyone else, we just want to go home to our families at night. The violence and dehumanization of these men and women who are simply enforcing the law must stop.”
Secretary Noem also emphasized that threats or actions intended to obstruct law enforcement will not deter federal operations: you will not stop us or slow us down. ICE and our federal law enforcement partners will continue to enforce the law. Assaulting and obstructing law enforcement is not only dangerous but is a federal crime and a felony. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer or dox our officers, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
DHS urges anyone with information about harassment or doxing of ICE officers to report it via phone at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or through ICE’s online tip form.
