Attorney General Bondi Declares War on Political Violence Against Federal Officers
Attorney General Pam Bondi has issued a stark warning about what she describes as a “new era of political violence” in America, announcing a federal crackdown on extremist groups that target federal officers. In a video shared on social media, Bondi declared “ZERO TOLERANCE” for political violence and domestic terrorism, emphasizing the seriousness with which the Department of Justice will respond to threats against federal personnel. This announcement follows a series of violent incidents, including a recent attack on a Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility where a suspected gunman opened fire from a nearby rooftop. The FBI described this as a “targeted attack” on federal law enforcement, resulting in one detainee’s death and injuries to two others before the shooter, identified as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, took his own life.
The Attorney General’s statement comes amid escalating tensions surrounding immigration enforcement, with Bondi highlighting a disturbing pattern of violence against public officials and federal agents. “Assassins have tried to murder President Donald Trump twice and tried to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh,” Bondi noted, adding that “in Minnesota, legislators, and even children attending Mass, were gunned down in cold blood in two separate incidents.” She also referenced an incident where “more than 200 violent rioters were at a Chicago ICE facility, chanting, ‘arrest ICE, shoot ICE.'” Her message was unambiguous: anyone who “so much as touch[es] one of our federal officers” will face federal prosecution and imprisonment.
In her stern warning, Bondi drew parallels to previous periods of civil unrest, stating, “We’ve seen this before. We saw it in Portland and with the LA riots. These are not peaceful protests. These are coordinated attacks by radical extremists, and they end now.” The Attorney General’s approach signals a significant shift in federal law enforcement strategy, promising that individuals who threaten or assault federal officers will be “arrested and charged federally, not in some liberal state court.” This statement suggests a deliberate circumvention of local prosecution in areas where federal authorities may perceive leniency toward protesters. Bondi extended this warning to those “funding and aiding these extremists,” promising they would be “dismantled brick by brick.”
As part of this enhanced security initiative, Bondi announced that Department of Justice agents will be deployed to Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities nationwide. These agents will be tasked with safeguarding federal personnel, protecting federal property, and making immediate arrests for any federal crimes committed at these locations. While officials have not specified the number of agents being deployed or which facilities they will secure, the move represents a significant escalation in federal presence at immigration enforcement sites. Additionally, Bondi has instructed Joint Terrorism Task Forces across the country to “disrupt and investigate” all entities and individuals engaged in acts of domestic terrorism, specifically targeting those involved in violence and obstruction against federal agents.
The Department of Justice plans to pursue “the most serious available charges” against participants in what Bondi characterized as “criminal mobs.” These charges may include conspiracy offenses, assault offenses, civil disorder offenses, and terrorism offenses—signaling an intent to use the full weight of federal prosecution against those who participate in violent protests. “While these never-ending attacks are designed to break our will, they only strengthen our resolve to complete the work begun,” Bondi declared, framing the violence as an attempt to undermine the rule of law and the proper functioning of federal immigration enforcement.
Beyond protecting federal officers, Bondi indicated that this initiative would support broader immigration enforcement efforts. She has directed the FBI, DEA, ATF, and U.S. Marshals Service to “accelerate our efforts alongside the Department of Homeland Security to locate, apprehend, detain, prosecute, and remove all illegal aliens present in our country.” This statement aligns with the Trump administration’s emphasis on stricter immigration enforcement and suggests that protecting ICE facilities is part of a larger strategy to enable more aggressive deportation efforts. As these measures unfold, the tension between federal immigration policies and those who oppose them appears likely to intensify, with Bondi’s closing statement serving as both a promise and a warning: “The rule of law will prevail.”
