In a recent statement, Todd Lyons, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), expressed his concern over the rising threats against ICE agents and their families.
Lyons pointed out that these threats are primarily coming from activists opposing the Trump administration's stringent measures against illegal immigrants. "My officers and agents are enforcing immigration law," Lyons asserted in a video shared on ICE's X account.
"They are not secret police. They are not Nazis. But people hiding behind keyboards are dehumanizing them, they're doxxing them, stirring up anti-ICE sentiment, and putting their lives and their families' lives at risk."
As reported by Newsmax, the Trump administration's policy of mass deportations has sparked outrage among Democrats and left-wing activists. These critics have particularly taken issue with ICE agents wearing masks during the arrest of illegal immigrants. The video shared by Lyons included a social media post by Cynthia Gonzalez, the vice mayor of Cudahy, California, who seemed to encourage violent street gangs in Los Angeles to resist immigration raids.
Another disturbing post from a TikTok user suggested, "You can kill them. This isn't about social media clout anymore. This isn't about video. This isn't about the phone. This is about get a gun and start killing ICE agents."
The FBI is reportedly investigating Gonzalez's call to gang members in her now-deleted post to protect their "hoods" from ICE agents. Lyons, in response to the criticism of agents wearing masks, asked, "Wouldn't you wear a mask if it kept your family safe, if it kept your kids safe?" He further revealed an operation conducted with the Secret Service that led to the arrest of an individual who was posting photos of ICE agents and their families online, thereby endangering them.
Lyons questioned the focus of the outrage, asking, "So, let me ask, is that the issue here, that we're just upset about the masks, or is anyone upset with the fact that ICE officers' families were labeled terrorists?" The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a statement on June 20, stating that ICE agents have experienced a 500% increase in assaults during immigration enforcement operations.
The DHS also noted with concern that family members of ICE officers have been doxxed and targeted. The department warned that those engaging in such activities would face prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.
The rising threats against ICE agents and their families highlight the escalating tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the United States. As the debate continues, it is crucial to remember that the agents are simply enforcing the law and should not be subjected to personal attacks or threats.
The DHS's commitment to prosecute those who endanger the lives of ICE agents and their families sends a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated. The debate over immigration policy should be conducted in a respectful and civil manner, without resorting to personal attacks or threats of violence.
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