Far-left protesters attack ICE in San Francisco

July 8.

Protesters block ICE agents from transferring detainees in front of immigration court.

During 2025, agents of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) faced an unprecedented escalation of attacks, harassment, and both physical and digital intimidation by radical left-wing activists and pro-immigration groups. According to the Department of Homeland Security, attacks on ICE personnel increased by 500% compared to previous years, raising serious concerns among federal agencies.

One of the most serious incidents occurred on July 4th in Alvarado, Texas, when an ICE facility was attacked by armed individuals. A police officer was shot in the neck as the attackers fired from wooded areas. Official vehicles were spray-painted with phrases like “ICE pig” and “Fuck you pigs,” and fireworks were launched as part of the sabotage. That same day in Portland, Oregon, a mob of protesters violently assaulted federal agents and attempted to set fire to an ICE office entrance using an incendiary device.

On July 7th in McAllen, Texas, unidentified individuals fired dozens of rounds from assault rifles at a Border Patrol station. The shooting left several Border Patrol agents and local police officers injured. These events marked a turning point in the violence directed toward federal immigration institutions.

Meanwhile, a wave of protests against ICE raids spread through cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and New York. In many cases, the demonstrations escalated into clashes with police, vandalism, and the burning of official vehicles. In Los Angeles, protesters waved Mexican flags and danced on top of burning ICE vehicles. The National Guard was deployed in California to contain the violence after several days of unrest.

Beyond the physical attacks, ICE has also been the target of aggressive digital campaigns. Platforms like StopICE.net, run by activist Sherman Austin, and ICELIST, which uses artificial intelligence to track ICE movements, have enabled activists to monitor and alert communities in real time about enforcement operations. While these tools are viewed by their creators as forms of civil defense, federal officials argue that they expose agents to unnecessary risks, including threats to their families.

President Donald Trump strongly condemned the attacks, ordering law enforcement to stop them “by any means necessary.” He also accused Democratic leaders of inciting violence with their rhetoric against the administration’s immigration policies. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons justified the use of masks by agents, citing the dangers of being identified and targeted while off duty.

In summary, the attacks on ICE in 2025 reflect an alarming level of polarization and social confrontation. While activist groups view their actions as legitimate resistance against what they see as a repressive apparatus, the government and many security agencies interpret them as acts of domestic terrorism. The struggle to control the narrative around immigration, human rights, and national security has reached a new critical point in the digital age and under the new presidential administration.