DHS Secretary Mullin slams sanctuary politicians as attacks on ICE officers skyrocket

The Department of Homeland Security reported a dramatic rise in violence against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, with DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin blaming what he called "vicious lies" spread by sanctuary-city politicians and their supporters for fueling attacks on federal agents amid the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, according to Fox News.

DHS said assaults against ICE personnel climbed 1,649%, from 37 incidents under the Biden administration between January 20, 2021, and September 20, 2022, to 647 incidents between January 20, 2025, and September 20, 2026. Mullin said ICE officers "are under attack every single day" even though they are "simply enforcing the laws mandated by Congress and protecting the American people." He called on sanctuary politicians to stop attacking federal law enforcement and to work with DHS instead of prioritizing the needs of illegal immigrants over public safety.

DHS pointed to elected officials, largely Democrats, who have accused ICE of terrorizing communities and endangering the public, while noting that many of the people ICE has arrested have criminal records for offenses including murder, child sex crimes, terrorism and drug trafficking. In one case highlighted by DHS, an ICE officer working in Houston was burned and cut badly enough by an illegal immigrant's attack that his wound required 13 stitches to close.

Summarized by PolitiKool from Fox News’s reporting. Read the full story at Fox News →