Mathew Silverman is the National President of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association and a board member for Law Enforcement Today.
The growing hostility and violence directed toward federal law enforcement officers across this country must stop.
What occurred outside Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey this week was not peaceful protest. It crossed the line into criminal conduct when ICE law enforcement officers were assaulted by anti-ICE rioters who sprayed officers with an unknown chemical substance while they were simply carrying out their lawful duties.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, two individuals were arrested for assaulting, resisting, and impeding federal officers. Let's be absolutely clear: assaulting federal law enforcement officers is not protected speech. It is a felony crime. Any individual who attacks a police officer or federal agent should be prosecuted fully and aggressively under the law.
Failure to do so only emboldens further violence and sends a dangerous message that attacks on law enforcement are somehow acceptable when driven by politics or ideology.
The men and women of ICE are not creating immigration law. They are enforcing the laws passed by Congress and signed by Presidents from both political parties over many decades. Whether someone personally agrees with immigration policy or not, federal agents do not have the luxury of selectively enforcing laws based on political pressure, public opinion, or media narratives.
Their oath is to the Constitution and the laws of the United States.
Unfortunately, many politicians continue to deliberately blur that distinction for political gain. Instead of educating the public on how federal law actually works, some elected officials have chosen to inflame tensions, demonize federal officers, and create an environment where agents are increasingly targeted, harassed, and assaulted simply for doing the jobs they were sworn to do.
Secretary Mullin deserves significant credit for taking a more measured and pragmatic approach toward these highly sensitive operations. Unlike the more confrontational posture many associated with former Secretary Noem, Secretary Mullin appears focused on balancing enforcement with communication, transparency, and coordination in an effort to accomplish the mission with as little violence, unrest, and confrontation as possible.
That approach matters.
Secretary Mullin has publicly acknowledged the importance of congressional oversight, communication with elected officials, and maintaining operational professionalism while still ensuring federal law is enforced. Reports indicate that after Senator Andy Kim personally contacted Secretary Mullin, DHS worked to ensure the Senator was allowed access to the facility to conduct oversight responsibilities.
That demonstrates an effort to reduce tensions, maintain open lines of communication, and avoid unnecessary escalation while still protecting the integrity of ongoing law enforcement operations.
At the same time, Secretary Mullin has also made clear that assaults on federal officers will not be tolerated. There is an important distinction between respecting peaceful protest and allowing violent interference with federal law enforcement operations.
DHS and ICE personnel cannot effectively protect communities or enforce federal law if attacks against officers are minimized, excused, or politically justified.
Just as we have seen with the successful violent crime reduction operations in Memphis and Washington, D.C., this administration has demonstrated that strategically deploying federal law enforcement resources can significantly reduce violent crime and improve public safety.
When federal, state, and local law enforcement work together with clear leadership and operational coordination, communities become safer. Criminal organizations become disrupted. Repeat violent offenders are removed from the streets. Citizens regain confidence that law and order are being restored.
At the same time, the country must learn from the violent clashes we have already witnessed in places like Minneapolis, where confrontations between law enforcement and organized protesters escalated into dangerous and chaotic situations.
That's where we saw a measured, structured and strategic approach by the White House to deportations be hijacked by Greg Bovino in an apparent attempt to bolster his own social media fame. The result? President Trump needing to send in Border Czar Tom Homan to repair community relations and clean up the mess created by the wanna-be social media influencer Bovino, who is now peddling challenge coins for cash while trying to remain relevant by attacking the administration.With summer approaching and midterm elections on the horizon, political rhetoric and public tensions are only likely to intensify. We as a society must do better before violence spirals even further out of control.
Political disagreements can never become an excuse for violence against law enforcement officers or destruction of communities. Americans have every right to peacefully protest and express disagreement with government policy. What they do not have the right to do is assault federal agents, obstruct lawful operations, destroy property, or create dangerous environments that place officers and the public at risk.
Secretary Mullin is working tirelessly to keep this country safe during an incredibly difficult and politically charged time. He and the men and women serving under DHS and ICE deserve credit for continuing to carry out their mission professionally despite constant criticism, hostility, and growing threats to their safety.
Many federal agents are currently working extraordinarily long hours under dangerous conditions, often sacrificing time with their families and placing themselves directly in harm's way to protect the public.
Adding to the frustration, many of these officers and agents continue to suffer under the federal law enforcement pay cap, which results in countless hours worked without additional compensation despite increasing operational demands.
These men and women continue showing up not because of the paycheck, but because they believe in their oath, their mission, and protecting the American people.
The rhetoric surrounding Delaney Hall has also become dangerously misleading. DHS has publicly stated there is no hunger strike and no substandard conditions at the facility.
Detainees are reportedly provided meals approved by certified dieticians, clean water, clothing, bedding, hygiene products, medical care, and access to legal counsel and family communications.
Yet despite these facts, misinformation continues to spread rapidly across social media and political platforms, further fueling unrest and hostility toward officers on the ground.
The reality is that ICE officers, Border Patrol agents, deputy U.S. marshals, federal protective officers, and countless other federal law enforcement personnel are increasingly operating in hostile environments where they are vilified simply for wearing the uniform.
These are mothers, fathers, veterans, and public servants who volunteered to protect this country and uphold federal law.
They deserve the support of the American people, not political attacks designed to generate headlines, fundraising opportunities, or social media clicks.
Peaceful protest is a constitutional right. Assaulting police officers is not.
If this country allows violence against law enforcement to become normalized anytime someone disagrees with government policy, we are setting an incredibly dangerous precedent that threatens not only public safety, but the rule of law itself.
No matter someone's political affiliation, every American should be able to agree on one simple principle: federal law enforcement officers should never be assaulted for carrying out the duties Congress legally requires them to perform.
America cannot remain safe if the people tasked with enforcing the law become political targets every time they put on the badge.
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