White House blames Democrats for attacks on ICE agents
The White House released a statement on Tuesday accusing Democratic lawmakers of spreading 'dangerous, inflammatory rhetoric' that it claimed has inspired vigilantes to assault immigration officers.
'As ICE agents risk their lives to secure our borders and protect our communities, they're facing a 700 per cent surge in assaults — a direct consequence of dangerous, inflammatory rhetoric from Democrat politicians,' the White House said.
Eleven people were arrested this week after setting up a 'planned ambush' on an ICE facility in Alvarado, Texas, in which a police officer was shot in the neck, according to law enforcement.
Ten suspects face charges of attempted murder, with one facing charges of obstruction of justice, after a group of people in black military-style clothing allegedly shot fireworks at the facility and defaced vehicles with graffiti saying 'ICE pig' and 'traitor'.
When ICE agents and an Alvarado Police officer responded, two assailants opened fire, hitting the officer in the neck, officials said.
In a separate instance of violence allegedly inspired by Democrats, three people were charged with assault this week after ICE agents were kicked, punched, and targeted with an 'incendiary device' during a protest in Oregon, according to state prosecutors.
And on Monday, a man wielding an assault rifle was shot dead after he fired off dozens of rounds at federal agents outside another border patrol facility in Texas, leaving three people in hospital.
It comes as House Democrats introduced a bill to ban federal agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to wear visible ID during public enforcement operations.
Footage of masked ICE agents snatching people off the streets and whisking them away in unmarked cars has sparked a furious backlash from Democrats and immigration activists.
New Jersey representative LaMonica McIver, who was arrested while protesting outside a migrant detention centre, has called on her supporters to 'shut down the city' and said 'we are at war'.
Meanwhile, Tim Walz, the former vice-presidential candidate, condemned ICE agents as the 'modern-day Gestapo'.
Responding to the bill, Donald Trump warned that exposing the identity of ICE agents would place them in 'tremendous danger', and pointed out that Democrats have supported pro-Palestinian university protesters who wear face masks to hide their identities.
Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, also criticised Democrats for 'shamelessly attacking' federal agents.
'ICE agents put their lives on the line every day to get the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens off our streets and out of our communities,' she wrote on X.
'They are making America safer, and Democrats are shamelessly attacking them for it.'
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