An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office was attacked by an arsonist, forcing agents to flee in what was described by Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin as a direct result of inflammatory anti-ICE rhetoric coming from Democrat politicians.
For background, on August 5, 2025, The New York Post broke the news that an arsonist had thrown a rock through the window of ICE’s Yakima, Washington, field office before setting a fire behind the building. According to the Post, signs around the property would have made it clear to the attacker that the building was a Homeland Security facility, leaving little room for speculation about a motive.
In a statement shared with the Post, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin made it abundantly clear that she believes that the harmful anti-ICE rhetoric used by Democrat leaders had a direct influence on the attack. Furthermore, Assistant Secretary McLaughlin said that assaults on ICE agents have increased by 830%.
Speaking about the link between the Democrats’ anti-ICE stance and attacks like the one in Yakima, McLaughlin said, “Make no mistake, Democrat politicians like [House Minority Leader] Hakeem Jeffries, Mayor [Michelle] Wu of Boston, [Minnesota Gov.] Tim Walz, and Mayor [Karen] Bass of Los Angeles are contributing to the surge in assaults of our ICE officers through their repeated vilification and demonization of ICE.”
Continuing, the assistant secretary said that the rhetoric used by Democrats to defame ICE ranged “from comparisons to the modern-day Nazi Gestapo to glorifying rioters,” adding, “The violent rhetoric of these sanctuary politicians is beyond the pale.” She went on to clarify, “Secretary [Kristi] Noem has been clear: Anyone who seeks to harm law enforcement officers will be found and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Moreover, in a press release issued by the Department of Homeland Security on July 15, 2025, Assistant Secretary McLaughlin spoke in detail about the dramatic increase in attacks on ICE personnel, saying, “Brave ICE law enforcement are risking their lives every day to keep our communities safe from the worst of the worst criminals.” She went on, “It is reprehensible that our officers are facing this threat while simply doing their jobs and enforcing the law.”
Additionally, the agency provided photos of injuries sustained by an ICE employee who was “doxed” by California Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA), who, DHS alleged, showed the employee’s ID card to “a violent mob,” which the agency equated to “putting a target on his back and prompting the mob to attack him.” DHS confirmed that the ICE employee was hit with a rock as a result of Rep. Carbajal’s stunt.
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Going even further, DHS published a fact sheet on June 30, 2025, showcasing “fake narratives” that Democratic Party leaders and media outlets have allegedly used to spark increased aggression towards ICE. The agency wrote, “This kind of garbage has led to a 500% [at the time] increase in assaults on ICE officers. Politicians and activists must turn the temperature down and tone down their rhetoric.”
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