ICE Attacks Increase by 1,000%: Court Records Contradict Trump Administration's Claim

In a downtown Los Angeles courtroom, a federal prosecutor presented an unusual piece of evidence to the jury: an umbrella, described as having been "used as a sword" to attack a federal officer during a July protest. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Kibbe noted the items weight was under one pound, requiring a special scale to measure.

Trump administration officials have repeatedly cited alleged attacks on federal officers during deportation operations to justify aggressive measures, including threats to deploy the National Guard and U.S. Marines. The Department of Homeland Security has claimed a dramatic 1,000% increase in assaults on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

However, a review by The Times of court records from Los Angeles, San Diego, Portland, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., shows that most reported assaults caused no injuries. About 42% of cases involved shoving, spitting, flailing, or objects like water bottles being thrown, according to court documents.

During the umbrella trial in October, prosecutors provided no evidence of injury. Across the country, many defendants accused of assaulting federal officers have been acquitted or had charges dropped. Over a third of cases reviewed ended without conviction, sometimes because defendants were deported. No trial has resulted in a conviction.

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin cited incidents of officers being shot at, assaulted with vehicles, and bomb threats. She highlighted a Houston case where an ICE officer required 13 stitches after being beaten with a metal coffee cup, and another in Nebraska involving severe head injuries. President Trump referenced the 1,000% figure in a memo on domestic terrorism investigations, using it to justify stricter tactics and mask-wearing for agents. DHS has not released a full list of reported assaults.

Between January 21 and November 21, DHS reported a 1,153% rise in assaults on ICE agents nationwide, totaling 238 incidents compared to 19 in 2024. In the five districts analyzed by The Times, assaults rose 26%, from 129 to 163. NPR reported similar trends.

The 2024 totals are partially inflated by assault charges linked to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots, for which Trump later issued pardons. ICE or Border Patrol agents were victims in approximately 60% of cases. Experts say the government uses dramatic percentages to justify extreme enforcement tactics.

In over half of the reviewed cases, officers suffered no physical harm. About 30% involved minor injuries, while 26 incidents resulted in serious injury or medical attention. Examples include agents hit with rocks, dislocated fingers, and attacks with their own batons or stun guns.

Some alleged attacks were unusual: in D.C., a man was charged for throwing a sandwich; in Portland, a woman for assault with a tambourine; in L.A., assaults involved a hat, bag, flag, and umbrella.

On June 7, during early immigration enforcement in California, Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino instructed agents to arrest anyone who touched them, claiming authority "all the way to the top." The National Guard was deployed the following day, with Trump publicly declaring Los Angeles under siege. Video evidence in one case showed an agent shoving a protester, yet the jury returned a not guilty verdict.

In Los Angeles, 71 people were charged with assault on federal officers this year, with 21 cases dismissed or resulting in acquittals. Only nine cases were filed in 2024. Prosecutors noted dismissals often allow them to refile charges if additional evidence arises.

Former ICE officials said assaults were rarely prosecuted in previous years unless physical violence occurred. Experts suggest the increase in reported assaults is linked to broader public interactions by immigration agents during the Trump administration, moving from targeted operations to visible enforcement in public spaces.

Several cases showed defendants charged after officers initiated contact. For example, Andrea Velez, a U.S. citizen, raised her work bag to protect herself from perceived threats. Charges were later dropped. In Chicago, protesters were charged after reacting to shoving by agents; all charges were dismissed. In L.A., Jonathon Redondo-Rosales was accused of assaulting an agent with a hat after being struck by a government vehicle. Marimar Martinez faced indictment for allegedly interfering with a Border Patrol operation but had charges dismissed.

Some vehicle-related attacks were reported, with five incidents causing serious injuries. One DHS task force member sustained a possible sternum fracture in National City, near San Diego. Additional incidents included an ICE agent being struck with a skateboard and another incapacitated with a Taser.

Data indicates local law enforcement officers are significantly more likely to be attacked than ICE agents. L.A. County sheriff deputies faced roughly 600 assaults from January to October, compared to nationwide ICE incidents. Experts note that claims of a 1,000% increase exaggerate the scale due to a near-zero baseline, creating a "moral panic."

The trial of Alexandria Augustine, accused of assaulting a federal officer with her umbrella, ended with a not guilty verdict. Augustine testified that she acted to protect other protesters. Prosecutors alleged she hit an officer, but her defense argued the umbrella posed no real threat and that the case originated from a protest, not criminal intent.

Jury deliberations concluded within hours, and Augustine was acquitted. Other cases with similar minor or symbolic alleged assaults, such as flags or umbrellas, have been dismissed, highlighting the disparity between DHS claims and actual court outcomes.

Author: Sophia Brooks