US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a public warning that assaulting its officers constitutes a federal crime punishable by felony charges.
In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, the agency said: “Anyone, regardless of immigration status, who assaults an ICE officer WILL face federal felony assault charges and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.” The message was accompanied by an image bearing the words “think before you resist” alongside a clenched fist.
The broad language of the warning has raised concerns that prosecutors could pursue federal assault charges for conduct traditionally classified as resisting arrest or protest activity.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has in recent months widened its definition of threats to include filming Ice operations. In July, homeland security secretary Kristi Noem described “violence” as “anything that threatens [DHS agents] and their safety. It is doxing them. It is videotaping them where they’re at.”
One case cited by campaigners is that of Mario Guevara, a Spanish-language journalist based in Georgia, who was detained for more than two months after filming enforcement operations. His lawyers said he had legal work authorisation.
The warning follows DHS claims in August that attacks on Ice officers had risen by 1,000%. When pressed for examples, officials cited incidents such as rubbish being dumped on an agent’s lawn and a sign containing profanities directed at an agent by name. In one case, the FBI offered a $50,000 reward for information on a suspect who “appears to fire a pistol” at Ice officers during a raid on a farm in California.
Federal prosecutors have brought assault charges against several protesters this year, with some cases involving behaviour previously treated as resisting arrest. Last week, in the suburbs of Chicago, an Ice officer fatally shot a man during a traffic stop after the individual allegedly dragged the officer with a vehicle.
Ice operations are expected to increase following a US supreme court ruling last week that removed legal restrictions on agent authority in California. In response, DHS pledged to “flood the zone in Los Angeles”.
