Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., is calling on Democrats to undergo “serious soul-searching” after a wave of violent attacks against federal immigration authorities, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents.
Issa, a senior Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, introduced a resolution this week condemning violence against federal immigration officers. He pointed to a surge in assaults and ambushes against agents, which he said have been fueled by left-wing rhetoric and sanctuary policies embraced in Democrat-led cities.
“The men and women of ICE and Border Patrol are facing violent mobs—citizens and illegal aliens—who are blocking, threatening, even trying to kill our agents as they carry out lawful duties,” Issa said. “This resolution asks a basic question: Do we, as a Congress, categorically condemn deadly attacks on law enforcement—or not?”
The resolution references recent incidents including a violent Independence Day attack at the Prairieland Detention Center in Texas and a targeted shooting at a Border Patrol annex facility in McAllen, Texas.
ICE Agent Assaults Up 830% Amid Escalating Hostility
According to the Department of Homeland Security, assaults on ICE agents have skyrocketed by 830% compared to last year. Issa cited the alarming trend as part of a broader campaign by left-wing activists to demonize immigration enforcement, similar to the anti-police protests seen in recent years.
“What we’re seeing now is a coordinated effort from the far left to undermine law enforcement and keep our streets vulnerable to violent gangs like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua,” Issa told Fox News Digital.
The California Republican also criticized Democrats for pushing legislation that would force ICE and Border Patrol agents to remove protective face coverings and display identification during operations—a move he and other Republicans argue puts agents and their families at risk.
Democrats Push Transparency; GOP Warns of Safety Risks
Democrats supporting the proposed VISIBLE Act argue that requiring agents to identify themselves is a matter of transparency and civil rights.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said, “When masked agents enter a community without ID, families are left terrified and unsure whether they’re even dealing with legitimate law enforcement. Americans deserve to know who is detaining them—and why.”
But Issa dismissed the push as dangerous political theater.
“To demand that agents expose their identities is like publishing a map to their homes and schools,” he said. “We protect the identities of federal judges and law enforcement officers for good reason—safety. This is no different.”
Trump Administration Presses Forward with Mass Deportations
President Donald Trump’s administration has ramped up immigration enforcement nationwide, emphasizing arrests of individuals with criminal convictions and expanding ICE operations even in sanctuary jurisdictions.
Issa blamed recent violence on what he called “months of excuses and enabling” by Democrats.
“The anti-ICE movement is just the latest effort by the left to sabotage our laws and our officers,” he said. “Democrats need to look in the mirror and take responsibility for the rhetoric that’s putting lives at risk.”
High-Profile Attacks Spark National Debate
Authorities recently arrested 10 suspects in connection with the Prairieland Detention Center ambush. Law enforcement officials believe the attack was a coordinated effort to target federal agents with deadly force.
The incident, along with the McAllen shooting, has intensified debate over how far local governments can or should go in resisting federal immigration enforcement.
As violence escalates, Issa and fellow Republicans are urging Democrats to tone down their rhetoric and stand behind those tasked with securing the nation’s borders.
“Law enforcement accountability is important,” Issa said, “but not at the cost of their safety and the safety of their families.”
