Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons said on a Friday podcast that he fears his agents could face violent attacks during nationwide left-wing protests planned for Saturday.
“No Kings” protests are slated to occur across the nation on Saturday to oppose President Donald Trump’s administration, prompting worry among law enforcement regarding potential violence. Lyons said on “VINCE” that he and his agency support peaceful protests, but voiced concern that the Saturday protests present “the perfect catalyst” to assault ICE agents. (RELATED: ‘What A Stupid Question’: Karoline Leavitt Clashes With Reporter As She Attempts To Trap Her Up Over Riots)
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“When you bring in these agitators, these anarchists, these funded groups disrupt those protests — they go into the cover of peaceful protest to initiate violence to get their point across in the cause,” Lyons said. “And that’s the biggest fear for me is that that negative energy is going to be directed toward ICE agents. And this is the perfect catalyst to jump on that.”
The protests coincide with a planned military parade on Saturday, which is the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, Flag Day and Trump’s birthday. Millions are anticipated to participate in the over 1,800 protests planned, a spokesperson for “No Kings” told the Daily Caller.
“No Kings is a nationwide day of defiance,” the organization stated. “From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we’re taking action to reject authoritarianism—and show the world what democracy really looks like.”
Lyons also warned on “VINCE” that Democrats’ anti-ICE rhetoric against his agency will lead to killing.
“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?” he said. “And it’s just this fired up rhetoric that’s going viral.”
Footage posted to social media on Saturday showed an individual wearing a motorcycle helmet while throwing rocks at the windshields of vehicles holding ICE agents during the Los Angeles riots.
Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin also accused Democrats of inflaming violence against ICE in a Saturday statement on the riots, which included assaults on federal immigration officers.
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