Who Is to Blame for the Tensions and Incidents Surrounding ICE Operations?

This is a cross-post from the Straight Talk About Politics Group. Original group can be found here:
https://www.meetup.com/straight-talk-about-politics-and-more/

On January 7, an ICE agent fatally shot Renée Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis woman, after she reportedly impeded an enforcement detail’s movement with her vehicle and then drove the vehicle toward the officer in an apparent attempt to escape. Federal officials claim she used her vehicle aggressively, while critics say the response was excessive. The incident has triggered national protests and debates over use of force by immigration agents, but is just the latest example of the alarming escalation of tensions and incidents around ICE deportation operations. In particular, vehicular attacks against ICE and Border Patrol agents have increased dramatically, from 47 in 2024 to 99 in 2025, a 110% jump. Court data show an increase of 25% in assault charges overall against the members of both agencies. There have been firearm attacks too, in Chicago, Alvorado, Texas, and Dallas, among others, resulting in injuries to immigration agents and fatalities among detainees.

So what are the reasons for this alarming trend, and who is to blame? It is quite easy to narrow it down to two possible culprits. One is the Trump administration, most of the Republican party and the media supporting them. The other is the Democratic Party, on national, state and local levels, and the media and popular culture standing behind it. But which of the two carries the decisive portion of the responsibility?

On one hand, under President Trump’s second term, ICE and Border Patrol have carried out large-scale interior raids and deportation campaigns in major U.S. cities far from the border — such as Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota and Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago — deploying thousands of agents into communities and triggering criticism and backlash.

While the administration has repeatedly claimed the focus of these operations are “the worst of the worst”, those claims have come under suspicion. News reports from across the nation seem to show aggressive at-large arrests, meaning ICE tracks down individuals in the community rather than focusing mainly on people already in custody or with serious criminal records. Critics say this has led to many people being detained who have no criminal histories. Moreover, the administration has replaced leadership at ICE field offices with Border Patrol agents, an agency with a different enforcement culture, which civil liberties groups argue has made operations more aggressive.

On the other hand, many Democratic-led states and cities (including the aforementioned Minnesota and Chicago) adopted non-cooperation or “sanctuary” policies to protect illegal immigrants from overreach. Because these polices typically include refusing ICE detainers for individuals with criminal records as they are processed in local courts and released from jails, they practically force ICE to look for their targets in the streets, homes and workplaces. That increases agent visibility in neighborhoods, stokes fear among immigrant families and boosts the risk of physical confrontation.

In addition, many Democratic officials, including mayors, governors and members and leadership of Congress, have gone beyond policy disagreement and used language that portrays ICE as illegitimate, rogue, or criminal as an institution, encourages “resistance” without clarifying legal limits, and signals to residents that ICE actions are unlawful by default. As a result, individuals may feel morally justified taking risks that escalate into violence.

So what do you think? Come and share your opinion in a passionate, but respectful discussion. Or just bring your popcorn, sit back and listen to the others talk it over. We’ll have two designated speakers on either side of the motion giving opening and closing statements, and an open floor discussion in between. Zoom credentials will be provided the day of the event.