As Sheriff Roy Boyd aptly put it, “Protesting is a constitutionally protected activity,” yet he argues that what we’re witnessing is not mere protest, but rather an insurrection brewing within our borders.
Since the dawn of the second Trump administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have found themselves increasingly at odds with the public. This friction has escalated beyond mere disagreement, veering into the territory of physical confrontations.
Take early June, for instance, when protests against ICE in the Greater Los Angeles area devolved into chaos, with demonstrators hurling rocks, glass bottles, and other projectiles—a situation that certainly raises eyebrows about the nature of dissent.
In a bold maneuver, President Donald Trump dispatched the California National Guard and U.S. Marines to the scene, much to the chagrin of California Governor Gavin Newsom.
On Capitol Hill, critics of ICE, including Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), have accused the agency’s agents of employing excessive force and inflicting “psychological terror” by operating in unmarked vehicles and wearing face coverings. According to the authorities, these masks are a precaution against being doxxed and targeted by the very people they are meant to protect.
At that time, the Department of Homeland Security reported a staggering 413% increase in assaults on ICE officers. Fast forward to now, and assaults have surged by an alarming 700%, with the nature of the violence evolving as well.
Recent weeks have seen ICE officers and Border Patrol agents fired upon in separate incidents in Texas. In Portland, Oregon, a protester allegedly launched an incendiary device at ICE officers during a demonstration. Meanwhile, a protester in Camarillo, California, reportedly discharged a firearm at ICE agents during an operation that uncovered illegal immigrant children working on a cannabis farm. Tragically, a man fleeing the scene met his end after falling 30 feet from a building.
Anti-ICE graffiti has proliferated across the nation, from Sacramento to Denver, Indianapolis, Chicago, and even Nebraska, signaling a growing discontent.
Scott Mechkowski, former deputy director at ICE’s New York City field office, warned The Epoch Times, “This is only going to get worse,” indicating a grim outlook for the ongoing conflict.
“There are people out there trying to hurt you now,” he noted, reflecting on the escalating violence.
Sheriff Boyd echoed these sentiments, stating that he sees a clear escalation. “What you’re seeing is not protests. What you’re witnessing is an insurgency in the United States fighting against the will of the people,” he asserted.
Shootings
The situation took a dark turn on July 4, when a late-night ambush unfolded in Alvarado, Texas. A criminal complaint details how a group of 10 to 12 individuals dressed in black not only shot fireworks at an immigrant detention center but also began attacking vehicles in the parking lot.
Two unarmed correctional officers from the Department of Homeland Security approached the scene, only to be met with gunfire as an officer from the Alvarado Police Department was shot in the neck upon exiting his vehicle. In total, 20 to 30 rounds were fired at law enforcement. Initially, ten suspects faced charges for the attempted murders of the officers, while an 11th suspect was charged separately for allegedly driving a van containing an AR-15-style rifle. A manhunt is currently underway for another suspect, Benjamin Hanil Song, with the FBI offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to his capture.
Just three days later, 481 miles south, another shooting incident occurred in McAllen, Texas, where Ryan Mosqueda, a 27-year-old from Michigan, attacked a Border Patrol station while carrying a semiautomatic weapon. His barrage injured a local police officer and two Border Patrol agents before he was shot dead in return fire.
The White House has pointed fingers at “dangerous, inflammatory rhetoric from Democrat politicians” as a contributing factor to these violent outbursts.
Boyd believes that the rising disorder is not merely coincidental but rather indicative of a coordinated campaign orchestrated by the political left. “This is not by chance. It’s not happenstance. The federal law enforcement agencies, the FBI, need to be looking into this as quickly as possible,” he emphasized.
Mechkowski, who describes himself as a political independent, expressed hope that the violence doesn’t escalate to more fatalities “on either side.” He pointed out that there’s a prevailing negative perception of law enforcement in the country, leading to daily threats against cops and agents merely trying to perform their duties.
Both law enforcement veterans raised concerns about how anti-ICE protesters—some of whom exhibit violent tendencies—seem to have rapid access to information about enforcement actions. They suggested that leaks may be a significant factor.
The Department of Homeland Security has alleged that Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.) intentionally doxxed an ICE employee, effectively providing the employee’s details to aggressive protesters after receiving a business card from the agent.
Masking and Identification
As tensions mount, critics of ICE have increasingly voiced concerns regarding agents obscuring their faces and failing to display identification during operations. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) have introduced legislation aimed at mandating visible identification for ICE agents and prohibiting mask usage under most circumstances, with other Democrats joining as co-sponsors.
“The lack of visible identification and uniform standards for immigration enforcement officers has created confusion, stoked fear, and undermined public trust in law enforcement,” Booker remarked, referencing the proposed VISIBLE Act.
Mechkowski, however, questioned the necessity of such measures, asserting that while officers do have a duty to identify themselves to their intended targets, this should not extend to the general public. He cautioned that the political backlash against masking is only exacerbating the violence. “Unless they’re held accountable, I don’t think that’s ever going to stop. I think it’ll get worse and worse,” he stated.
Boyd called for local law enforcement, especially in California, to take a firmer stance against violent anti-ICE protesters. “Everybody needs to get on board and assist their federal partners,” he urged.
Mechkowski suggested that stricter sentencing laws and aggressive prosecutions could serve as a deterrent to future violence. “If you have a case against them, and you get it, and they start doing some serious time, I think people will think twice,” he concluded.
Travis Gillmore contributed to this report.
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