ICE agents are getting pummeled—literally—while doing their jobs. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers face a 413% spike in assaults as they arrest violent foreign nationals in the U.S. without legal status. The danger is real, and the rhetoric fueling it is reckless.
Just The News reported that ICE agents, tasked with removing violent offenders under federal orders, are now dodging fists and death threats. Protesters and even some congressional Democrats are escalating tensions, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries vowing to unmask agents who wear facial coverings for safety.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons has had enough, demanding that politicians stop endangering his team.
“Stop putting my people in danger,” Lyons said in a June 5, 2025, ICE tweet. His plea cuts through the noise: words have consequences, and agents are paying the price.
Jeffries’ threat to expose agents’ identities is as tone-deaf as it gets. “This is America, not the Soviet Union,” he declared, ignoring why agents wear masks: doxxing and death threats against their families. Protecting kids’ social media pages is too much to ask.
In Los Angeles, the situation turned ugly when locals posted agents’ names and faces online. Worse, they targeted agents’ families, splashing kids’ Instagram and Facebook pages across the internet. It’s not just harassment—it’s a calculated attack on law enforcement’s home front.
Lyons didn’t mince words, calling out the “ridiculous rhetoric” harming his officers. “These are real people with real families,” he said. Stirring outrage might score political points, but it’s agents’ loved ones who get caught in the crossfire.
The 413% increase in assaults, reported by the Department of Homeland Security, paints a grim picture. ICE agents face physical attacks while executing lawful arrests ordered by federal immigration judges. This isn’t “overreach”; it’s the job, and it’s getting harder.
In New Jersey, Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., was arrested for assaulting an ICE officer during a trespassing incident at a federal detention facility.
She wasn’t alone—other Democrats joined the stunt, turning a routine operation into a circus. Actions like these don’t solve problems; they create them.
Lyons highlighted the hypocrisy: “My officers are protecting the same people who are threatening their safety.” It’s a bitter pill when those shouting loudest about justice are the ones jeopardizing chaos. Common-sense law enforcement shouldn’t be this controversial.
Under the Biden administration, 15 million unauthorized migrants entered the U.S. and were released via catch-and-release policies, per ICE data. Local jurisdictions’ refusal to join ICE’s 287(g) program, which fosters cooperation with local law enforcement, compounds the issue. It’s a recipe for disorder, and agents are left holding the bag.
Luisa Deason, former ICE public affairs officer, nailed it: “It’s a different situation today” with millions released into communities.
She argued that local officials should join 287(g) “because it improves public safety.” Ignoring this logic puts everyone at risk, not just ICE.
Forty states have law enforcement agencies in the 287(g) program, with Florida leading the pack. Deason emphasized that cooperation ensures “criminal aliens” are detained, not released to wreak havoc. Non-cooperation, she warned, endangers agents and communities alike.
Lyons’ frustration peaked when addressing doxxing in Los Angeles, where agents’ families were targeted online. “I’m not going to let my officers put their lives on the line,” he said, defending their use of masks. Safety isn’t optional; it’s a necessity.
Deason called resistance to ICE cooperation “ludicrous,” noting that joint operations create “a controlled environment” where “nobody’s going to get hurt.” Releasing criminal aliens instead of honoring detainers is a choice—one with deadly consequences. It’s time for local leaders to step up.
