Physical attacks on federal immigration agents, including those from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), are reportedly on the rise. Recent violent incidents highlight a disturbing trend regarding the safety of these agents while enforcing immigration laws.
California commander Gregory K. Bovino is currently leading the El Centro Border Patrol Division.
Bovino shared a video on X (previously Twitter) showcasing the swift action taken by Border Patrol’s Bortac Special Operations Group. They arrested a suspect who allegedly spat at an agent during a deportation operation in Los Angeles.
The clip features the suspect wearing an anti-ICE shirt while being detained by an agent. Bovino commented, stating, “This US citizen is accused of assaulting a federal agent by spitting on him during an ongoing immigrant arrest. Our agent rapidly executed a warrant in Los Angeles.”
In another recent case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon announced the arrest of a man from Portland linked to several offenses, including aggravated assault on federal agents and destruction of federal property during a protest at an ICE facility in South Portland.
On Monday, 24-year-old Robert Jacob Hoops faced his initial court hearing on felony charges involving weapon assaults and damage exceeding $1,000 against federal property.
Court documents indicate that on June 14, 2025, Hoops was protesting outside an ICE building in Portland, where he allegedly threw a rock at the building and struck an ICE officer in the head, inflicting serious injuries.
Authorities later reported that Hoops, alongside two other individuals, used a broken stop sign as a tool to cause significant damage to the entrance of the ICE building. They identified him from social media images that day.
Since June 13, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon has initiated legal action against 23 defendants for various crimes connected to ICE facilities, including assault on federal officers, arson, and looting.
Another prominent case involved two clinic workers in Los Angeles accused of assaulting a federal agent on July 25. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, Jose de Jesus Ortega, 38, and Daniel Nadine Davila are charged with assaulting federal officers and conspiring to obstruct these officers in carrying out their duties.
As of July 15, statistics from the Department of Homeland Security show a notable increase in attacks on ICE officials compared to the same period in 2024.
