All the pushers of the anti-ICE narrative – which is really a replay of past years’ anti-law enforcement narratives, hyped by ingrained anti-Trump sentiment – need to take a pause, focus on five important facts.
First, history is very clear that much of what we like and dislike in our personal, community, national and international behavior boils down to a choice: allowing or deterring illegal behavior.
This historic balance – think WWII or internal riots that turn violent – is essentially between appeasement and deterrence, which reduces to permitting illegal behavior with no accountability or setting up consequences which produce hesitation, reluctance, and even a decision not to act.
Second, within the US borders – depending on which “expert” one chooses, some more favorable to those in the US illegally and some less – the US now has between 14 million and 19 million persons on our territory who are not US citizens, not permanent residents, not visa holders, and likely not entitled to asylum. Many have foreign and domestic felony records, while others simply broke in.
Third, the ratio of US ICE officers in the “Enforcement and Removal Operations” (ERO) office – roughly 6000 – to total persons in the US – roughly 434 million – reduces to one ICE ERO officer to every 72,333 persons, or (assuming 19 million illegals), one ICE ERO officer to every 3,167 illegals.
The job is overwhelming, even before the need to cross-reference all public, legally acquired, and probative evidence, match that to where an illegal alien (with past felony) is located, work tactically to locate find him, then move in safely with ample force and backup to apprehend them.
Fourth, promotors of stalking, harassment, threats, and attacks on ICE officers are “off the charts,” creating an exponential new threat to those seeking to constitutionally enforce laws long on the books, accelerate deportation (especially where expediting is mandatory) and prosecution.
Thus, in just the last one year, “car attacks on ICE officers have spiked – surging some 3,200 percent between January 21, 2025 and January 7, 2026,” according to the New York Post, while ICE has also experienced a “1,347 percent increase in assaults and a whopping 8,000 percent surge in death threats…”
These numbers are unprecedented, indefensible, and amount to a companion set of crimes worthy of prosecution, as well as a warning to all those enforcing US laws and supporting those them. Not since the 1960s – and perhaps not then – was such a concerted attack on law enforcement afoot.
Finally, those pushing the anti-law enforcement narrative – including political actors – while given a free pass during Obama and Biden, should not receive one now. The laws in every state are clear, and require severe punishments for stalking, harassing, threatening or injuring law enforcement.
Moreover, 18 USC 111 (“Assaulting, resisting, or impeding … officers”) is very specific.
It states, among other things: “… Whoever (1) forcibly assaults, resists, opposes, impedes, intimidates, or interferes with any person designated … while engaged in or on account of the performance of official duties; or (2) forcibly assaults or intimidates any person who formerly served …” faces – depending on physical contact and intent – up to eight years in prison, and fines.
Moreover, under another section of the same provision, anyone who “uses a deadly or dangerous weapon … or inflicts bodily injury, shall be … imprisoned not more than 20 years.”
In short, ICE officers do a dangerous job, are under heightened risk from apprehensions required, face more risk from reckless political actors, agitators, organizers, and media pushing an anti-ICE narrative, and – lest they forget – could face up to 20 years in prison for what some are doing.
Bottom line: For those determined to believe what anti-Trump, anti-law enforcement, anti-conservative, anti-order, and ultimately anti-American agitators push, think twice. Your recklessness could cost you, and ICE officers are protecting Americans, which means you.
Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, Maine attorney, ten-year naval intelligence officer (USNR), and 25-year businessman. He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (North Country Press, 2018), and “Cherish America: Stories of Courage, Character, and Kindness” (Tower Publishing, 2024). He is National Spokesman for AMAC. Today, he is running to be Maine’s next Governor. BobbyforMaine.com
