Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel, who enforce federal immigration law, are contending with a dramatic surge in threats against them and their families. According to Breitbart, this week, ICE released details showing a drastic rise in intimidation aimed at agents by supporters of the “Abolish ICE” movement, including an 8,000% jump in death threats and more than a 1,300% increase in assaults against agents.
One notable threat involved a voicemail left on an ICE agent’s device in which the caller called the agent a “fascist pig” and urged the agent to “kill yourself,” while also directing threates toward the agent’s spouse. The caller continued: “I hope your wife dies. I hope your mom and dad die,” adding, “I hope everything that could go wrong in your life happens. I hope you have the most miserable life.” The tirade extended with: “I hope you get hit by a bus. I hope you’re paralyzed, and your wife leaves you…” followed by, “You are a traitor to the American people, to the values that made our country. You should kill yourself. You’re…disgusting.”
Breitbart reports, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin attributed the surge in threats to rhetoric from elected Democrats in sanctuary jurisdictions, arguing it fuels anti-ICE activism and emboldens those who threaten agents. She suggested that the hostile language and violence toward law enforcement result from sanctuary politicians’ repeated vilification of police and immigration enforcement efforts.
“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,” McLaughlin said.
“Comparing ICE day-in and day-out to the Nazi Gestapo, the Secret Police, and slave patrols has consequences,” McLaughlin continued. “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.”
Breitbart reports, “in October of last year, an illegal alien Latin Kings member was charged with soliciting the murder of Commander at Large of the United States Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino. Federal investigators have said that the Mexican drug cartels are working with gangs and anti-ICE activists in the United States to place bounties on ICE agents.”
Recently, a separate incident in New Jersey saw two brothers arrested after allegedly threatening to target McLaughlin.