By Bethany Blankley
The Center Square

A surge in targeted vehicular attacks against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol officers have occurred this year “driven by hateful rhetoric from sanctuary politicians, leftist activists, and the mainstream media,” the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday.

Since Jan. 20, there have been 99 vehicular attacks against federal law enforcement officers, more than double the 47 attacks reported during the same period last year, DHS said. Vehicular attacks pose potentially life-threatening risks to officers and members of the public, authorities at the state and local level have warned nationwide. Vehicular crashes remain a leading cause of death among adults.

“We are seeing the results of the Left’s constant demonization of the men and women of law enforcement. Dangerous criminals – whether they be illegal aliens or U.S. citizens – are turning their vehicles into weapons to attack ICE and CBP,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said. “Still, the brave men and women of DHS will not be deterred and will continue arresting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens. Anyone who attacks law enforcement, especially using their vehicles, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

From Jan. 20 to Nov. 18, there were 71 reported vehicular attacks against U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, including Border Patrol, compared to 45 vehicular attacks during the same period last year, a 58% increase.

Over the same timeframe, 28 vehicular attacks were reported against ICE officers compared to two attacks last year, a 1,300% increase.

This is as death threats against ICE officers increased by 8,000% and assaults against ICE officers increased by 1,000% compared to the same timeframe last year, The Center Square reported.

Multiple targeted vehicular attacks have occurred in Chicago.

On Nov. 8, several occurred including in the Little Village neighborhood when a hostile crowd boxed Border Patrol agents into an alleyway. As agents apprehended an illegal foreign national, a drive-by shooting occurred where multiple rounds were fired at them and the driver got away. Attackers also threw bricks and paint cans damaging their vehicles.

In other incidents on the same day, drivers attempted to ram ICE and Border Patrol vehicles near an FBI facility, stalked and followed them to ram their vehicles near a Sam’s Club parking lot and at other street intersections, resulting in multiple arrests.

On Oct. 22, Border Patrol agents faced numerous violent attacks in Chicago, including at a laundromat, at the intersections of 26th and Kostner, 24th and Ogden, 25th and Kildare, and in Glendale Heights. In addition to physical assaults, three vehicular attacks occurred, including a head on collision allegedly committed by a Latin Kings gang member with an extensive criminal history. U.S. citizens and illegal foreign nationals rammed their cars into Border Patrol vehicles and were arrested. DHS referred to the day as “Cicero or Sicario: a day of crashes.”

On Oct. 14, a Venezuelan allegedly rammed his vehicle into a Border Patrol vehicle in Chicago and attempted to flee. He and his Venezuelan passenger were arrested as a violent mob surrounded federal agents and threw objects at them. Multiple arrests were made.

On Oct. 2, in separate incidents in Bensenville and Norridge, Mexican and Guatemalan men allegedly rammed vehicles into ICE vehicles. They illegally entered the country as gotaways, “at an unknown date and unknown location, without inspection by an immigration official,” DHS said. They were arrested and processed for removal.

Gotaways is the official term for foreign nationals who illegally enter the country between ports of entry to intentionally evade capture, don’t make immigration claims, and don’t return to Mexico or Canada. More than two million illegally entered the country during the Biden administration, The Center Square exclusively reported.

Another recent example occurred in Homestead, Florida, when a Guatemalan national allegedly reversed his car into an ICE officer, hitting him in the leg and nearly crushing him to death. He allegedly rammed his vehicle multiple times into ICE vehicles, drove into oncoming traffic and crashed into a utility van. The driver and three passengers, all men in the country illegally, were arrested; three were gotaways.

Additional vehicular attacks have been reported nationwide, including in California, where attacks against ICE and Border Patrol agents have resulted from federal agents and their family members being doxxed, The Center Square reported.

DHS blames Democratic lawmakers and sanctuary policies for the increased violence, pointing to U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez publishing a “Know your rights” guide to assist illegal foreign nationals; U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman providing guidance to illegal foreign nationals on how to deal with law enforcement; Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass directing city employees to not comply with immigration enforcement and California Gov. Gavin Newsom providing guidance to illegal border crossers on how to recognize federal immigration officials; among others.