Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons warned on a Friday podcast that Democrats’ rhetoric against his agency will lead to killing.
Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin accused Democrats of stoking violence against ICE in a Saturday statement on the riots in Los Angeles, California, which included assaults of federal immigration officers. Lyons agreed with host Vince Coglianese on “VINCE” when he expressed concern about assaults escalating to killing due to Democratic rhetoric. (RELATED: Boston Mayor Stands By $650,000 Legal Bill To Prepare For Sanctuary City Congressional Hearing)
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“So far we’ve seen assaults, but the thing I’m on guard for — and I’m sure you’re worried about too — is whether or not an ICE agent gets killed,” Coglianese said. “That’s what I’m worried about because I think — I’ve been saying that this type of gross language is going to get an ICE officer killed. And if that happens, it sounds like you’re saying the same thing I’m saying, which is these Democrats will have blood on their hands.”
“Well, 100%, I think anyone that calls for violence against one of the men and women that I have the privilege to lead is responsible for it … the reason why I’m so adamant about the mask situation or them protecting themselves, because under the last administration in 2022, I had Antifa protesters show up my house and threaten my family at three o’clock in the morning,” Lyon replied. “So I know exactly what these officers and agents are going through.”
Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman of New York expressed frustration over ICE agents wearing masks during their operations in an interview published June 1. He claimed that by wearing the masks, the ICE agents indicated their actions were not “legitimate.”
“Just this week, I had two credible death threats … You saw the federal building in L.A. It says ‘Kill ICE.’ Our investigation team right now is so swamped with doxing and threats against agents that you’re just overwhelmed. And it’s because of this rhetoric, right?” Lyons added. “And to your point, they’re going to get somebody killed, right? It’s only a matter of time because, even with throwing a rock or a Molotov cocktail, you can still kill somebody, right? And it’s just this fired up rhetoric that’s going viral.”
Video posted to social media showed a person donning a motorcycle helmet while throwing rocks at the windshields of vehicles holding ICE agents during the Los Angeles riots.
Democratic Boston Mayor Michelle Wu also compared ICE agents to a New England neo-Nazi group on June 4 because both organizations wear masks.
Moreover, Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz labeled ICE agents as President Donald Trump’s “modern-day Gestapo” during a May 18 commencement address as the administration clamps down on illegal immigration.
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