On Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, Republican leaders — including Gov. Kristi Noem — publicly praised DHS officers as the department reported alarming increases in attacks on federal immigration personnel: a reported 1,300% rise in assaults, 3,200% in vehicular attacks and 8,000% in death threats. The White House released a compilation of criticism directed at ICE by some Democratic officials, while DHS highlighted multiple rescue incidents to underscore the dangers agents face. The developments have intensified an already heated national debate over immigration enforcement and public safety.
Noem and Republicans Praise DHS Officers as Attacks on Federal Agents Surge Nationwide
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem praised federal officers on Friday, Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, amid heavy criticism and attacks directed at immigration enforcement agents.
Law Enforcement Appreciation Day unfolded amid intense debate over federal immigration enforcement as officials and political leaders responded to a sharp rise in attacks on federal personnel. The Department of Homeland Security reported dramatic percentage increases in assaults, vehicular attacks and death threats against officers and agents involved in immigration operations.
Reported Spikes in Attacks
DHS statistics cited by federal officials show notable year-over-year increases: assaults against federal officers are reported to be up 1,300%, vehicular attacks up 3,200%, and death threats up 8,000%. The department said these metrics reflect a troubling escalation in violence and threats targeting agents carrying out immigration-related duties nationwide.
Political Reactions
Republican leaders used the day to publicly commend federal officers. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem praised DHS personnel and urged Americans to thank law enforcement for their service. "To every officer who puts on the badge each day: thank you," she said, encouraging acts of gratitude such as buying a coffee or delivering a meal.
"Our federal officers put themselves at risk to protect the public. Their service and sacrifice deserve our recognition," a statement from allied officials read.
Many Republicans, including national figures, echoed the call to stand with federal law enforcement. At the same time, Democratic elected officials in several cities have been sharply critical of federal immigration tactics, with some calling for reduced federal presence in local communities. The White House published a compilation highlighting inflammatory remarks by several Democratic politicians about ICE and other federal immigration authorities.
Federal law enforcement agents are seen tending to a crash victim and aiding efforts in Texas after heavy floods, DHS Secretary Krisit Noem said Friday.
Local Incidents and Protests
Tensions have flared in places such as Minneapolis, where federal agents faced heightened scrutiny after a woman was fatally shot in an incident officials say involved an attempted vehicle attack on an ICE agent. Local leaders and protesters have criticized federal tactics, while federal supporters insist the officers acted in self-defense. Such incidents have intensified the national debate over enforcement practices and public safety.
DHS Highlights Rescues and Heroic Acts
To underscore the risks federal personnel face, DHS released a list of rescue and life-saving incidents involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents. Examples include:
- On April 26, 2025, ICE officers in Dallas helped extricate and save a driver after a pickup truck rolled seven times and landed upside down.
- ICE officers responding near a multi-vehicle collision in Broadview, Illinois, pulled a man free from a burning car moments before it was engulfed in flames; several officers suffered minor smoke inhalation and cuts while assisting.
- An HSI special agent in Texas rescued the driver of an overturned truck, provided emergency care after the man lost his arm, and secured the scene until medical crews arrived.
- An HSI agent in Washington, D.C., detained a suspected hit-and-run driver fleeing a wrong-way crash and held the individual for local authorities.
- HSI agents assisted injured motorists between Brownsville, Texas, and San Benito, Mexico, and one agent in Alabama freed a trapped woman from a burning vehicle and helped get her to safety.
- Federal personnel from multiple offices also aided flood rescue operations in San Antonio, Texas.
DHS framed these accounts as examples of officers risking their lives in the line of duty amid increasing public protests and political scrutiny.
Context and Cautions
Political leaders on both sides have used recent incidents to advance competing narratives about public safety, immigration enforcement and the role of federal officers. Readers should note that percentage increases reported by DHS are large but reflect changes from a relatively low baseline; independent verification and detailed breakdowns by incident type, time period and geography would provide greater context.
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