Bondi to Deploy DOJ Agents to protect ICE Facilities Amid Rising attacks
WASHINGTON – Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Friday the Department of Justice will deploy agents to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities nationwide, responding to what she described as a surge in attacks against ICE personnel and facilities constituting “domestic terrorism.” Bondi stated the Department will pursue the “most serious available charges” against those involved in criminal activity, including conspiracy, assault, civil disorder, and terrorism offenses.
The move follows a presidential memo signed Thursday directing investigations into “political violence and intimidation,” to be led by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces. The White House cited the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, last year’s assassination attempts against President Trump, and an increase in attacks on ICE officers as justification for the new strategy.
President Trump also signed an executive order labeling antifa a domestic terrorist organization, though the legal implications of this designation remain unclear. Antifa is a decentralized movement of largely left-wing activists, lacking a formal leadership structure. Importantly, “domestic terrorism” is not currently a chargeable offense under federal law, and the government does not maintain an official list of domestic terrorist groups, unlike its approach to foreign terrorist organizations.
Bondi will work with the FBI and state and local police to investigate these incidents.
