U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) faced an unprecedented surge in violence and hostility over the past year, a trend that culminated in a volatile demonstration at Foley Square in Manhattan on Thursday night, where leftist activists chanted slogans such as “Save a life, kill an ICE,” and “Kristi Noem will hang.”
Following the shooting death of anti-ICE protester Renee Good in Minneapolis, leftists have protested against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in various cities. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has directly linked this environment of animosity to the rhetoric of “sanctuary politicians” and certain media narratives.
According to DHS data, assaults against ICE agents skyrocketed by more than 1,300% during the first year of the second Trump administration. Between January 20 and December 31, 2025, physical assaults rose from 19 in the previous year to 275.
The violence has taken many forms, including a 3,200% increase in vehicular attacks, with 66 recorded incidents of suspects using cars as weapons. Death threats against agents saw a staggering 8,000% increase. Specific acts of violence reported by DHS include a sniper opening fire on a Dallas ICE facility — killing two detainees — and a gang member ramming a law enforcement vehicle into a tree. In other instances, agents were hammered in the face, bitten, or targeted with Molotov cocktails.
“This unprecedented increase in violence against law enforcement is a direct result of sanctuary politicians and the media creating an environment that demonizes our law enforcement and encourages rampant assaults against them. Dangerous criminals – whether they be illegal aliens or U.S. citizens – are assaulting law enforcement and turning their vehicles into weapons to attack law enforcement,” Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin stated. “Still, the brave men and women of DHS will not be deterred and will continue arresting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens. Anyone who attacks law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Some examples of incendiary rhetoric have included Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz calling ICE law enforcement the “modern-day Gestapo,” Minneapolis Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey calling for ICE to “get the f*** out of Minneapolis,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) calling for people to “fight” President Trump’s agenda “in the streets,” Illinois Democratic Governor JB Pritzker claiming the United States is “essentially” becoming Nazi Germany, and Boston Democratic Mayor Michelle Wu compared mask-wearing ICE agents to a Neo-Nazi group.
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