Acting ICE Director on 'Extremely Dangerous' Attacks Against Agents Fueled by Rhetoric

Escalating Attacks on Law Enforcement

• ⚠️ Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons describes the rhetoric against law enforcement as "ridiculous" and politically motivated, stating it puts ICE and CBP agents in danger.
• 🎯 Vehicular attacks against CBP officials have increased by 58% since January 20th, with 71 incidents.
• 📈 ICE has seen a 1300% increase in vehicular attacks, with 28 incidents in the same period.
• 💥 Lyons shared a personal experience where a man with charges of fleeing police, DUI, and prior deportation struck two ICE vehicles.

Impact of Inflammatory Rhetoric

• 🗣️ Lyons directly refutes North Carolina Governor Josh Stein's claims of racially profiling and targeting citizens, calling them "ridiculous."
• 🚗 The governor's description of agents in "masked, heavily armed agents and paramilitary garb" is contrasted with the reality of law enforcement operations.
• 🚨 The use of vehicles as deadly weapons against law enforcement is highlighted as a growing and extremely dangerous trend.

Local Emergencies and Protests

• 🏘️ The mayor of Broadview, Illinois, declared a state of emergency due to bomb and death threats following an ICE operation.
• ✊ Lyons states that the responsibility for these threats lies with the individuals protesting and organizing, not ISIS.
• 📢 He notes that Broadview police and Illinois State Police were previously attacked with rocks during ICE operations, indicating a pattern of opposition.

Enforcement of Immigration Laws

• ⚖️ Regarding a court case about transferring Venezuelans, Lyons stated ICE is enforcing the Immigration and Nationality Act as written.
• 🏛️ He emphasized that if there are issues with how laws are enforced or written, the responsibility lies with Congress to change them.
• 🔍 ICE's mission is to enforce immigration laws, and they are doing so according to the current legal framework.