In a recent surge of violence, attacks on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have skyrocketed by 700%.
Todd Lyons, the Acting Director of ICE, has pointed the finger of blame squarely at Democrats in Congress, accusing them of inciting this violence by labeling ICE agents as "terrorists" and "Nazis."
Lyons made these accusations during a Saturday appearance on Newsmax, where he expressed his concern for the safety of ICE officers and other law enforcement personnel.
According to Newsmax, Lyons stated that these inflammatory labels have effectively placed "a target on the backs" of law enforcement officers across the country. During his appearance on "America Right Now," he shared his fears about the escalating violence against ICE officers. "That's one of the things that keeps me up at night consistently the men and women of ICE, our local and state partners, and other federal partners that are helping us aren't safe right now," Lyons told host Tom Basile.
Lyons brought attention to alarming new data from the Department of Homeland Security, which highlights a sharp increase in violence directed at ICE personnel. "We actually just broke a 700% increase over last year's numbers on assaults on ICE officers," he revealed. He further illustrated the growing threat with a recent incident near Dallas. "Just last night, we had an incident in the Dallas field office. A local police officer responding to protesters and fireworks outside the Prairieland detention facility in Alvarado, Texas, was shot in the neck. They were ambushed," Lyons explained, describing the situation as "unprecedented."
When asked about potential solutions to protect law enforcement, Lyons did not mince words in blaming Democratic officials for fueling hostility towards ICE agents. "When you have elected officials, especially Democrats in Congress, calling us terrorists, calling us Nazis, saying it's OK to dox us, dox our families, that's not right," Lyons asserted. He added that such rhetoric was directly responsible for escalating threats and violence against ICE officers.
Lyons called for urgent support from political leaders at all levels, emphasizing the need for a unified front to protect those serving in immigration enforcement roles. "What we need is support from congressional leaders, from local leaders," he said. "These folks are out there protecting this nation every day."
The ICE chief further noted that violent demonstrations targeting his agency appear organized and well-funded. He assured viewers that federal authorities, including the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigators, and Homeland Security Investigations, are actively investigating these groups. "The Department of Justice has open cases on a lot of these individuals and corporations funding these protests," Lyons said.
Dispelling the notion that ordinary citizens were behind the unrest, Lyons emphasized the coordinated nature of the threats. "These aren't your average people," he insisted. "Most American citizens realize ICE is a law enforcement agency, a law enforcement tool. Everything we're doing has been on the books since the 1950s."
Lyons pledged continued vigilance in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies to uncover and prosecute those orchestrating the violent backlash. "There is definitely a menacing group behind this, and we're working very hard with the Department of Justice to find them," he concluded.
As the violence escalates, the need for a unified front in support of law enforcement becomes increasingly urgent. The question remains: will the political leaders heed Lyons' call for support, or will the violence continue to escalate? The safety of our nation's law enforcement officers hangs in the balance.
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