In a striking response to escalating violence, Attorney General Pam Bondi has declared a federal crackdown on political violence targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities across the United States, Fox News reported.
Following a deadly attack on a Dallas ICE facility and rising unrest at other locations, Bondi announced the deployment of Department of Justice (DOJ) agents to secure ICE facilities nationwide while vowing strict penalties for those involved in attacks on federal officers.
The wave of violence came into sharp focus on Wednesday when Joshua Jahn, a 29-year-old suspected gunman, opened fire from a nearby rooftop at an ICE facility in Dallas. Jahn's attack resulted in the death of one detainee and injuries to two others before he took his own life. The FBI has since classified this incident as a deliberate strike against federal law enforcement.
Following the Dallas tragedy, unrest continued to spread, with reports of over 200 rioters gathering at a Chicago ICE facility. These individuals were heard chanting hostile slogans like "Arrest ICE, shoot ICE," and at least one was seen carrying a firearm.
Attorney General Bondi addressed the nation in a video posted on X on Saturday, condemning the surge in aggression. She described the current climate as a "new era of political violence" affecting various levels of society. "America has entered a 'new era of political violence,'" Bondi stated.
"Assassins have tried to murder President [Donald] Trump twice and tried to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh," Bondi continued in her statement. "In Minnesota, legislators, and even children attending Mass, were gunned down in cold blood in two separate incidents, and an assassin targeted and murdered our friend Charlie Kirk."
"A sniper shot three people at a Texas ICE facility, and now more than 200 violent rioters were at a Chicago ICE facility, chanting, ‘Arrest ICE, shoot ICE.’ At least one had a gun," Bondi added, highlighting the severity of recent events.
In response to these incidents, Bondi announced on Friday that DOJ agents would be stationed at ICE facilities across the country. Specific details about the number of agents or exact locations remain undisclosed by officials.
Bondi also directed Joint Terrorism Task Forces to investigate and disrupt groups or individuals involved in domestic terrorism. This includes those committing repeated acts of violence or obstruction against federal personnel.
"If protesters so much as touch one of our federal officers, they will be sent to prison," Bondi warned in her address. She emphasized a firm stance against any form of aggression toward law enforcement.
"We've seen this before. We saw it in Portland and with the LA riots," Bondi remarked, comparing current events to past disturbances. "These are not peaceful protests. These are coordinated attacks by radical extremists, and they end now."
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has already taken action, arresting dozens of individuals linked to Antifa for violent acts. These include assaults on law enforcement, civilian murders, and widespread rioting across the nation.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin referred to the violent protesters as "domestic terrorists." "We are not going to allow domestic terrorists to attack our law enforcement," McLaughlin asserted.
Bondi has also instructed multiple federal agencies, including the FBI, DEA, ATF, and USMS, to collaborate with DHS. Their mission is to locate, detain, and prosecute illegal immigrants while upholding the rule of law. "The rule of law will prevail," Bondi affirmed.
The DOJ will pursue the harshest charges possible against those involved in violent mobs, Bondi confirmed. These charges may include conspiracy, assault, civil disorder, and terrorism-related offenses, signaling a robust federal response to restore safety and order.
