Democratic Congressman Salud Carbajal (D-CA) is facing growing criticism after he endangered the life of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer during a raid on an illegal cannabis operation in California last week.
According to ICE officials, Carbajal allegedly handed over one of the agent’s business cards to a hostile group of protesters gathered at the site of the enforcement action. The agency claims the crowd became violent, throwing rocks and injuring at least one officer. The act of sharing the officer’s contact information — widely regarded as a form of doxxing — reportedly resulted in the agent being specifically targeted and attacked, according to Townhall.
In a statement, ICE condemned Carbajal’s actions, accusing the congressman of aligning with a mob that sought to obstruct federal law enforcement duties. “It is unacceptable and dangerous for an elected official to willfully compromise the safety of our agents,” the agency said. “Representative Carbajal’s rhetoric and behavior contribute to the growing hostility and physical threats ICE officers face.”
Carbajal, however, defended his presence at the scene, and maintained that the protest was “peaceful.” But video footage obtained from the raid refutes him. The video shows the congressman pushing through a line of ICE agents before being physically turned back. He then takes a business card from one of the agents and appears to pass it to a member of the crowd.
ICE officials say the officer whose information was shared later sustained injuries from rocks thrown during the protest. “Doxxing and similar tactics used by anti-ICE activists are putting lives at risk,” the agency said. “Congressman Carbajal chose to empower those who are inciting violence rather than stand with the rule of law.”
The incident has renewed concerns over increasing threats against ICE personnel amid rising tensions surrounding immigration enforcement. ICE says its officers are increasingly targeted by activists who employ aggressive tactics to interfere with operations, including publicizing agents’ personal information.