MSNBC correspondent Rosa Flores remarked on Wednesday that the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were heightening fear and division prior to a shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas. During a segment of “Ana Cabrera Reports,” she suggested that anti-ICE rhetoric from some Democratic leaders should be toned down in light of the incident. She noted that practices like using masks and unmarked vehicles were fueling public hostility toward the agency.
“All I’ve noticed lately is rhetoric escalating,” Flores shared with a colleague. She referenced troubling videos showing ICE agents forcibly detaining individuals and putting them into unmarked vehicles, observing that many officials were hidden from view.
In another development, police responded to a shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas on Tuesday morning, resulting in the deaths of two detainees and injuring another. The suspected shooter, identified as 29-year-old Joshua Yarn, was found to possess rifle ammunition inscribed with an “anti-ICE” message, raising concerns about a politically motivated attack. This prompted some public figures to call on Democratic leaders to temper their language regarding ICE.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton asserted that the attack was aimed at law enforcement and criticized Democrats for allegedly fostering an environment conducive to such violence. He stated, “The epidemic of left-wing political violence must end… But we will never surrender.”
Vice President JD Vance echoed these sentiments, urging an end to what he called an obsession with law enforcement, particularly targeting ICE. Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noem condemned the anti-ICE rhetoric from the far left and emphasized the need for awareness about the consequences of such language. “These horrifying killings must serve as a wake-up call,” she wrote, addressing the humanity of ICE agents who strive to keep communities safe.
Statistics from the Department of Homeland Security revealed an alarming 830% increase in attacks on ICE personnel from January to mid-July 2025, compared to the same period the previous year. This surge has caused public outcry, especially from Democratic officials, leading to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent law prohibiting law enforcement from wearing masks while on duty, set to take effect in January.
Throughout the escalating tension, Flores acknowledged how the rhetoric has fostered fear and hostility towards ICE, mentioning that the strategies of masking and operating in unmarked vehicles were part of the problem. “It created a divisive atmosphere, and communities we’ve reported on were very fearful,” she reflected, emphasizing the need for a more restrained discourse.
The Department of Homeland Security indicated that such rhetoric severely impacts officers, leading to a marked increase in assaults. They asserted that the current environment demands greater accountability for the language used against enforcement personnel.
