Senator Schmitt Leads Effort to Double Federal Penalty for Attacking ICE Agents

WASHINGTON - U.S.Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) released the following statement after introducing the Protect and Respect ICE Act to double the federal penalty for attacking Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) agents. This comes amid a 700% surge in attacks against ICE agents.

"While the left is focused on villainizing ICE and forcing agents to remove their masks, I'm focused on protecting these heroes who are working tirelessly to deport criminal illegal aliens and keep our communities safe. The punishment for attacking ICE agents should be swift and devastating. This is why I introduced legislation to double the federal penalty for assaulting federal immigration officials, sending a clear message to radical leftists that these attacks will not be tolerated," said Senator Schmitt.

These attacks have only gotten more brazen in recent days:

• On July 4^th, eleven individuals ambushed officers at an ICE facility in Alvarado, Texas.
• On July 4^th, rioters assaulted federal agents at an ICE facility in Portland, Oregon.
• On July 7^th, a man unleashed gunfire at a Border Patrol facility in McAllen, Texas.

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