Increase punishment for activities associated with the 'radical Left' as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) incidents surge by more than 800% according to Republican legislators.
In a move aimed at enhancing the safety of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, House Republicans are advancing a bill known as the "Protect and Respect ICE Act." The legislation, introduced by Rep. Ashley Hinson, seeks to stiffen penalties for assaulting, resisting, or impeding ICE agents or employees.
The bill comes in response to a reported 830% increase in assaults on ICE officials between late January and mid-July 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The measure would double the maximum prison sentence and fines for such offenses.
Rep. Hinson, in a statement, expressed concern about the radical Left siding with dangerous illegal aliens and wanting to strip ICE agents of the gear that keeps them safe. She links the surge in attacks to progressive activists.
This escalating partisan battle over illegal immigration and crime enforcement was highlighted by a clash between anti-ICE protesters and police in Portland, Oregon, although no prior context was provided. Footage showing protesters rolling out a guillotine outside of ICE's Portland field office was credited in the article, but it is not directly related to the legislation being discussed.
The bill is backed by Reps. Brad Knott and Diana Harshbarger. However, it has faced criticism from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who have both criticized the move. Chicago is reportedly preparing for an ICE crackdown, and the city's police department has been ordered by President Donald Trump to cooperate with ICE-led raids in major U.S. cities.
Elizabeth Elkind, a politics reporter for our website Digital, is leading coverage of the House of Representatives. You can follow her on Twitter at @liz_elkind. If you have any tips, feel free to send them to [email protected].
Johnson signed an executive order last week prohibiting Chicago police from cooperating with unlawful or unconstitutional actions by federal law enforcement or U.S. Armed Forces within the City of Chicago. The implications of this order in relation to the "Protect and Respect ICE Act" remain to be seen.
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