The ongoing immigration crackdown under the Trump administration has escalated tensions, culminating in a surge of violent incidents targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and associated facilities. The brutality has reached a crescendo in recent days. The administration has been busy trying to make “radical left” activism a top-tier threat, sidelining threats posed by far-right extremism.
Recent events underscore the precarious situation. With at least one person shot and killed in a New Orleans shooting on New Year’s Day, the new year had an astoundingly unfortunate start. In another alarming incident, an explosion destroyed a Tesla Cybertruck in Las Vegas, further illustrating the escalating violence linked to anti-ICE sentiment. All of these events are part of a much greater trend. Instead, they’re key pieces within a larger narrative pushed by the Trump administration, one that brazenly paints all radical left groups as dangerous extremists.
Brian Levin, founder of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, has long predicted a troubling escalation of violence related to immigration issues. According to ICE officials, there has been a staggering 700% increase in assaults attributed to “activists masquerading as immigrant advocates.” This disturbing figure underscores the ways in which the inflammatory language surrounding today’s immigration policy can often stir up actual violence.
Tumultuous last weekend escalated quickly and brutally. Sixteen protesters arrested during friction at an ICE detention center in Broadview, Illinois. The protests were the latest in a string of demonstrations against the agency. It has been under increasing attack from an angry public. Gregory Bovino’s El Centro border team has been sent out. This move marks an important step in the federal government’s message that they are serious about keeping the peace, even as tensions increase.
Adding to this climate of fear and violence, Ryan Louis Mosqueda fired multiple rounds at a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility in McAllen, injuring three individuals. These types of attacks have focused a national spotlight on the widely endangered mission of the immigration enforcement agencies in America.
Vigil to honor Silverio’s life, who lost his life after an ICE agent shot him in a tragic and unjust incident. Like what happened during this botched traffic stop in Illinois. This case further complicates an already contentious debate around law enforcement’s role in immigration. It does leave us with significant questions about how agents use force in the field that need to be addressed.
The political consequences of these events have been just as far-reaching. Democratic California Senator Alex Padilla joined a No on 31 protest in Los Angeles. Sadly, agents ended up physically removing him, subduing him and handcuffing him, an action that led to outrage by many who felt this was an abuse of power.
Just last month, demonstrators successfully liberated an ICE detention center, resulting in the arrest of ten of the people involved. At the same time, the FBI is providing a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the principal instigator, Benjamin Hanil Song. The fact that the FBI is involved shows how seriously authorities are taking these incidents.
Unless you’re well versed in the FBI’s scandals, Kash Patel’s story was stunning. One of the bullets recovered from the Dallas shooter’s ambush scene had an “antiICE” message. This piece of information sheds light on what’s driving these attacks. It further feeds the narrative of a coordinated anti-ICE campaign by some activist communities.
The Trump administration’s narrative emphasizes that “radical Democrats have been blatantly demonizing ICE agents and our law enforcement for years,” according to Mike Marinella, who has spoken out on behalf of law enforcement communities. He warned that “a deep and pervasive sickness has infected the radical left in this country, and elected Democrats’ escalatory rhetoric is feeding it.”
On July 2, ICE agents described a tense standoff taking place in Linda Vista, a neighborhood just outside of San Diego. A man attempting to avoid arrest crashed into one of their police cars. This tragic incident is just the latest illustration of the hostile, violent world in which immigration enforcement officers operate.
Fear and violence are on the rise as the political environment in America continues to worsen. Everyone involved in the immigration debate needs to face the consequences of what they say and do. Yet the administration may be most acutely focused on their opponents’ “radical left” violence. This misguided focus certainly calls into question its commitment to combating far-right extremism and all forms of violence rather than just some equally.