The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is asking the media and politicians to tone down the rhetoric regarding the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) law enforcement. In recent weeks, there has been a more than 1,000 percent increase in assaults against ICE, and online threats to their families.
“These types of threats against our brave ICE law enforcement officers and their families are disgusting,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said. “These officers risk their lives every day to arrest murderers, pedophiles, rapists, terrorists, and gang members from our communities. Comparing ICE day-in and day-out to the Nazi Gestapo, the Secret Police, and slave patrols has consequences. The men and women of ICE and CBP (Customs and Border Protection) are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters. They get up every morning to try and make our communities safer. Like everyone else, they just want to go home to their families at night. The violence and dehumanization of these men and women who are simply enforcing the law must stop.”
Examples of harassment include calling a Texas ICE officer’s spouse, livestreaming the pursuit of an ICE agent to his home and then posting the victim’s home address on Instagram, and a Halloween display featuring effigies of ICE agents.