ICE Officer Seriously Injured, โฃThreats Against Agents Surge, Homeland Security Warns
DALLAS, TX – A recent surge in attacksโข targeting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel and facilities hasโ prompted heightened security measures and warnings from Homeland Security officials. The escalation follows an incident in Dallas where an ICE officer was seriously injured by a detainee, and comes amid reports of bounties being placed on the heads of federal law enforcement.
On October 1, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) jointly issued an intelligence bulletin warning of escalating violence from “domestic violent extremists” against ICE facilities and personnel. The bulletin detailed pre-planned violent strikes in at least three states as june, including a rooftop โshooting in Dallas on October 1st that wounded several detainees. Authorities recovered an โunused shellโ casing at the scene inscribed with “ANTI-ICE,” leading them to believe the shootingโฃ was ideologically motivated.
The Dallasโ ICE facility was previously targeted with a bomb threat in August, resulting in โtheโข arrestโค of a manโฃ claiming to โcarry explosives.Inโ September, a gunman opened fire from a โrooftop intoโ a secureโ sally port at โคthe facility, killing one detainee and โฃcritically โฃinjuring two othersโ before dying by suicide.
“Every single ICE officer has someone who loves them – a family member, someone who cares that they come home at โขnight,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated during a press conference in Gary, Indiana, โคlast week, calling the โrecent attacks “unacceptable.”
Federal officials are also โinvestigating threats beyond direct attacks on facilities.โ According to DHS Special Agent in Charge James Bovino, transnational criminal โขgroups have placed bounties on federal officers. “The Latin Kings here in Chicago putโฃ aโ bounty outโค on the heads of federal โlaw enforcement,” Bovino said. “Don’t put a bounty on our heads – we’re โฃgoing to come after yours.”
The DHS has established a tip line โ(866-DHS-2-ICE) and an online portal for reporting harassment, threats, orโฃ doxing.
The increased threats areโ occurring as federal agents face scrutiny overโ tacticsโข used during operations in urban areas.A federal judge inโข chicago is currently โconsidering a preliminary injunction regarding tactics employed during “Operation โMidwayโฃ Blitz,” including allegations of excessive forceโค against protesters,journalists,and clergy.