New DHS data exposes disturbing 8,000% spike in death threats and violent attacks against ICE officers amid rising hostility toward immigration enforcement
A chilling new report from the Department of Homeland Security has revealed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are facing a wave of violent threats and attacks at levels never seen before in the agency’s history. The data, released this week, shows an 8,000% increase in death threats and physical assaults against ICE personnel nationwide, underscoring growing tensions surrounding border enforcement and the nation’s deeply divided immigration debate.
According to the DHS internal assessment, the surge began in early 2024 and intensified throughout 2025, coinciding with high-profile immigration raids and policy disputes that reignited national arguments over border control. Officials describe the pattern as “alarming and unsustainable,” warning that frontline officers—many of whom already face dangerous working conditions—are now targets of harassment, cyber threats, and direct violence in public spaces.
The statistics outline hundreds of credible death threats traced to both online platforms and organized protest events. In several cases, ICE facilities were vandalized, vehicles were attacked, and officers’ home addresses were leaked on social media. DHS officials noted that while political tensions have long surrounded immigration enforcement, the current spike represents a new level of aggression that poses a direct threat to national security and officer safety.
One senior homeland security source told reporters that the escalation mirrors an alarming shift in how enforcement officers are being portrayed. “These are Americans doing their jobs under the law, but they’ve become scapegoats in a political war,” the official said. “The data we’re seeing reflects not just disagreement with immigration policy, but a deliberate campaign to intimidate and silence enforcement agents.”
The report also cites a rise in coordinated protests near ICE field offices, some of which have turned violent. Protesters in several cities, including Portland, New York, and Los Angeles, clashed with police after demonstrations calling for the agency’s abolition escalated into property damage and threats toward federal officers.
ICE officials are calling for stronger protective measures, including increased security funding, dedicated investigative units for threat tracking, and faster legal action against individuals who issue credible threats. The agency has also urged Congress to recognize the growing risks faced by enforcement officers and to provide additional mental health resources to personnel coping with trauma and stress.
In a written statement, ICE Acting Director Patrick Lechleitner called the rise in threats “deeply troubling,” emphasizing that his officers “serve on the front lines of public safety, upholding immigration laws that Congress has passed.” He added, “Political disagreement should never lead to violence or intimidation. No one should fear for their life because they wear a badge and serve this country.”
While some advocacy groups argue that public outrage stems from controversial enforcement tactics, law enforcement experts stress that personal threats cross a dangerous line. Analysts warn that escalating hostility toward federal agents could lead to recruitment challenges and undermine broader homeland security operations. “If officers start to feel abandoned or unsafe, it’s the entire system that begins to break down,” said a former DHS investigator familiar with the report’s findings.
The Department of Homeland Security is now coordinating with the FBI to investigate multiple incidents involving credible death threats, particularly those distributed through social media networks and encrypted communication channels. Officials believe many of the threats originate from small but highly active extremist groups that view immigration enforcement as a symbol of federal overreach.
The DHS report closes with a stark warning: without swift and bipartisan efforts to restore respect for law enforcement institutions, violence against immigration officers could continue to rise. For now, ICE agents across the country are being advised to remain vigilant, limit public disclosure of personal information, and travel in pairs during field operations.
The findings underscore a sobering reality — America’s debate over immigration has moved far beyond policy. It’s now placing the very people charged with enforcing the law directly in harm’s way.
