House Homeland Security to Probe Whether Anti-Police Rhetoric Is Linked to Surge in Attacks on ICE and Officers

The House Homeland Security Committee will hold a hearing on Dec. 3 to examine whether anti-law enforcement rhetoric has contributed to a recent rise in attacks targeting law enforcement officers, including agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The session follows a string of violent incidents at ICE facilities and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) data indicating a sharp uptick in assaults on federal immigration personnel.

The hearing, titled "When Badges Become Targets: How Anti-Law Enforcement Rhetoric Fuels Violence Against Officers," will feature testimony from law enforcement leaders, including Michael Hughes (executive director, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association), Patrick Yoes (national president, Fraternal Order of Police), and Jonathan Thompson (executive director and CEO, National Sheriffs’ Association).

Committee Statements and Context

Committee Chair Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) said it is unacceptable that law enforcement officers "who risk their lives daily" face targeted violence. He urged Congress to ensure federal agencies have the tools, resources and partnerships needed to protect officers and the communities they serve.

"It is unacceptable that the brave men and women of law enforcement, who risk their lives daily to secure the homeland and protect the public, are facing targeted violence from radicals and international gangs on U.S. soil," Rep. Garbarino said.

Rep. August Pfluger, chairman of the committee’s counterterrorism and intelligence subcommittee, characterized recent attacks — including a deadly September shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas — as part of a broader pattern of politically motivated violence and said lawmakers must examine links between rhetoric and action.

Incidents and DHS Data

Republicans point to DHS figures showing reported assaults on ICE officers and other federal immigration agents rose from 10 incidents between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2024, to 79 incidents during the same period in 2025 — a change the agency described as nearly a 700% increase.

Notable 2025 incidents cited by lawmakers include a July shooting near the Prairieland Detention Facility in Alvarado, Texas, in which an Alvarado police officer was shot in the neck; five people later pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges connected to that attack. In September, a shooter opened fire at an ICE facility in Dallas; two detainees died, the FBI called the event a "targeted attack," and DHS reported that recovered shell casings bore "anti-ICE" messages.

Political Reaction

Some Republicans attribute the violence to heated political rhetoric and growing political extremism. The White House previously encouraged more measured language around ICE as Democrats debated immigration policy; for example, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) earlier described ICE as acting "like a terrorist force" and later defended her remarks in interviews.

The Dec. 3 hearing will give lawmakers, law enforcement representatives and experts an opportunity to present evidence, explore causal links between rhetoric and violence, and discuss steps to reduce threats against officers while balancing First Amendment considerations and ongoing policy debates over immigration enforcement.