President Donald Trump on Friday empowered all federal law enforcement officers to immediately arrest any violent protesters attacking Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials or their vehicles.
“I am on my way back from Texas, and watched in disbelief as THUGS were violently throwing rocks and bricks at ICE Officers while they were moving down a roadway in their car and/or official vehicle,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Tremendous damage was done to these brand new vehicles. I know for a fact that these Officers are having a hard time with allowing this to happen in that it shows such total disrespect for LAW AND ORDER.”
Trump then directed Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Border Czar Tom Homan to grant ICE, DHS, or any law enforcement officer the authority to “arrest these SLIMEBALLS,” who are throwing objects at officers or otherwise targeting authorities.
“I am giving Total Authorization for ICE to protect itself, just like they protect the Public. I never want to see a car carrying a Law Enforcement Officer attacked again,” the president said, adding that authorization for arrest and incarceration of these individuals is immediately granted.
Trump has repeatedly defended ICE amid the intense backlash that immigration officers face from Democratic lawmakers and violent protesters.
Earlier this week, he slammed Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) for introducing a bill requiring law enforcement officers to display visible identification when engaged in immigration operations. ICE faces criticism for allowing its agents to wear masks, which the agency says protects their identities from getting doxxed.
“People are out there taking photos of their names, of their faces, and posting them online with death threats to their family and themselves,” acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said in Boston last month. “So, I’m sorry if people are offended by them wearing masks, but I’m not going to let my officers and agents go out there, put their lives and put their family on the line because people don’t like what immigration enforcement is.”
ICE has recently seen a 700% surge in assaults on its officers, as the Trump administration continues carrying out its mass deportation agenda against illegal immigrants.
On July 4, an armed group ambushed an ICE facility in Alvarado, Texas. The group defaced vehicles with anti-ICE graffiti and then shot one officer in the neck after luring officials out of the building.
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About 11 individuals were charged for their involvement in the attack. One suspect remains at large, while the others were arrested.
Friday’s announcement comes after Trump visited central Texas to speak with state officials still reeling from the catastrophic flooding that killed more than 120 people, including at least 27 girls from Camp Mystic. More than 170 people remain missing amid federal and state response efforts.