We share the concerns of many Americans about the aggressive tactics of federal immigration agents around the country. However, recent attacks on federal and local officers that appear tied to immigration enforcement border on terror and must be prosecuted to the fullest extent.
While many of us watched with horror as the death toll in Central Texas mounted after catastrophic floods, a group of people ambushed an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Alvarado. Authorities said the arrestees vandalized vehicles on site and shot firecrackers into the facility to draw out corrections officers. A local police officer who responded to the scene was shot in the neck. We are grateful the officer wasn’t killed.
Federal prosecutors said 10 people face charges of attempted murder of a federal officer and discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. An 11th person has been charged with obstruction of justice and conspiracy.
According to authorities, a search revealed weapons and body armor as well as a flag saying “RESIST FASCISM” and flyers saying “FIGHT ICE TERROR WITH CLASS WAR!” and “FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS.” The attack on the Prairieland Detention Center appears to be politically motivated and, in our view, deserves investigation as potential terrorism.
Those of us who are frustrated about the scope of the Trump administration’s immigration raids must unequivocally condemn violence against government workers and law enforcement. Not only is it criminal and morally reprehensible, but it also doesn’t help the cause of improving due process for undocumented people in detention. If anything, attacks like this one can sour attitudes against immigrants and their advocates.