Democrat Tries To Muzzle Testimony On Surge In Attacks On ICE Agents

Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) interrupted a Congressional testimony that detailed the rise in violence against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and placed the blame on Democratic politicians, attempting to shut down the speaker by arguing that the testimony was outside the bounds of the Homeland Security Committee hearing.

The exchange came on Wednesday during a hearing in which Mike Howell, the president of the Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project, blasted Democrats for driving the increasing attacks on federal immigration agents.

Howell said he addressed the committee to “plead” with Democrats “to stand down on their threats on the men and women of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”

“The violence is getting out of control, and it is fueled by the demagoguery of politicians, whether it is one of your members telling Axios that there needs to be blood to grab the attention of the press and the public, another saying civility isn’t working and to prepare for violence, or even a member of this committee being arrested for forcibly impeding and interfering with federal officials, this escalation deserves condemnation,” Howell charged. “It needs to stop and it needs to stop now. Assaults against ICE officers are up over 830 percent.”

Rep. Bennie Thompson stops the hearing and attempts to claim @MHowellTweets‘ testimony broke committee rules when he points out that Democrat demagoguing has caused assaults against ICE officers to rise over 800%. pic.twitter.com/KgNHooiMb0

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) July 16, 2025

But Rep. Thompson interrupted Howell’s testimony, claiming that it was “outside the scope” of the committee hearing, which focused on the role of non-governmental organizations in facilitating mass illegal immigration into the United States under the Biden administration.

ICE agents have faced numerous instances of violence in the last several months, with armed extremists even shooting at federal agents.

Other left-wing activists, including some formally affiliated with the Democratic Party, have sought to obstruct the operation of ICE agents as they enforce federal law, The Daily Wire has detailed.

Democrats in Los Angeles shared the addresses of hotels that were hosting ICE agents and organized protests calling for the businesses to deny hospitality, The Daily Wire revealed. At least one hotel kicked out ICE agents following the demonstrations.

Other leftist activists in Los Angeles furnished agitators on the “front lines” of the anti-ICE unrest with helmets, respirators, and other pieces of riot gear. The activist bragged that she was able to “distribute over 100 pairs of work gloves, 50 helmets, and 500 masks at LA City Hall.”