A group of Republican U.S. senators, led by Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, has introduced a new bill aimed at protecting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers from rising violence.

The ICE Protection Act seeks to enhance penalties for assaulting or injuring ICE officers, resisting arrest, or interfering with their duties, especially when deadly weapons or vehicles are used, following a reported surge in attacks including a 1,300% increase in assaults and a 3,200% rise in vehicular attacks over one year, as noted by The Center Square.

The issue has sparked intense debate over the safety of federal agents and the rhetoric surrounding immigration enforcement.

Surging Violence Against ICE Officers

Recent incidents highlight the dangers ICE officers face, such as a Cuban national in northern San Antonio who rammed his vehicle into two ICE vehicles during an arrest attempt, Just The News reported.

In that incident, one officer was hospitalized with neck injuries, according to The Center Square.

The Department of Homeland Security reported 66 vehicular attacks on ICE officers between Jan. 21, 2025, and Jan. 7, 2026, compared to just two in the same period the prior year.

Details of the ICE Protection Act

Other violent encounters include a U.S. citizen killed during an alleged vehicular attack in Minneapolis last week.

Separate incidents in Minneapolis and Portland, Oregon, also saw Border Patrol agents shoot individuals during enforcement actions.

The ICE Protection Act proposes stiffer penalties, doubling the maximum prison sentence from 20 to 40 years for assaults involving deadly weapons or resulting in officer injuries.

Cornyn Blames Inflammatory Political Rhetoric

It also sets mandatory minimum sentences for vehicular attacks causing bodily harm—5 years for minor injuries, 7 for substantial harm, and 10 for serious injuries.

Sen. Cornyn has pointed to heated political rhetoric as a driver of this violence, stating, “The Radical Left has taken up a senseless crusade against our brave men and women in law enforcement, and Democrats’ inflammatory rhetoric has fueled an alarming rise in violence.”

Let’s unpack that—when public officials compare federal agents to historical atrocities or demand they leave cities with profanity-laced tirades, it’s not hard to see how tensions boil over into real-world aggression.

Contrasting Approaches to Enforcement

Cornyn also called out specific comments, saying, “From outgoing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz calling ICE law enforcement the ‘modern-day Gestapo,’ to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey saying ICE should ‘get the f**k out of Minneapolis,’ this type of rhetoric must end.”

While some Democratic leaders have criticized ICE, blaming them for escalating conflicts, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has bolstered resources and formed task forces to combat violent crime and target threats like the Tren de Aragua gang.

Isn’t it refreshing to see leadership that prioritizes the safety of those who protect our borders over political point-scoring? Abbott’s approach underscores a belief that lawbreakers, not law enforcers, should face the consequences.