ICE Director Responds to Agents Being Labeled 'Terrorists'
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) acting chief has denied heavy-handedness on the part of his agents, who he says have been forced to wear masks after being "doxed" and branded "terrorists."
Doxing is an online attack that involves publishing someone's personal information and details online, often with the intent to intimidate or frighten the victim.
The agency's Acting Director Todd Lyons comments come in the wake of criticism by San Diego Councilman Sean Elo-Rivera, who branded ICE officers "terrorists" following a raid at an Italian restaurant in the Californian city last week. The operation turned chaotic as customers tried to prevent the sting, which took place during the Friday night dinner rush.
Newsweek has reached out by email to ICE and San Diego City Council seeking further comment.
Why It Matters
The furor comes amid a febrile debate across the U.S. about immigration, which President Donald Trump had made a cornerstone of his presidential election campaign.
When he took the keys to the White House for his second term in office, he kicked off with a dramatic series of immigration raids and also revealed his hopes to end the automatic birthright citizenship for the children born to parents who aren't citizens or lawful permanent residents in the U.S.
The subject has proved divisive as politicians across the political spectrum battle about the best way to deal with immigration issues, and Democrats have slammed Trump and highlighted various deportation cases they claim are miscarriages of justice.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent wearing a mask in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on May 7, 2025.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent wearing a mask in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on May 7, 2025.
Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images
What To Know
Lyons spoke at a news conference in Boston to announce nearly 1,500 arrests across Massachusetts in May as part of a "surge operation."
During the event, he addressed criticism of his officers, but suggested he was shocked that people were more upset about his agents wearing masks, than the fact they had been forced to hide their faces due to safety fears amid the threat of retaliation for doing their jobs.
He appeared visibly emotional as he said two weeks ago in Los Angeles that his agents were "doxed." He added: "People are out there taking photos, of their names, their faces, and posting them online with death threats to their family and themselves."
His comments came after a backlash in the state last week, during a raid at the Buona Forchetta restaurant in San Diego. ICE officers swooped on four workers who were allegedly in the U.S. illegally. But the situation reportedly got out of hand when customers and witnesses surrounded their vehicles and tried to impede the operation. ICE agents deployed flash-bangs as smoke filled the air, and masked agents wearing tactical gear faced off against the crowd.
"Federal actions like these are billed as a public safety measure, but it had the complete opposite effect. What we saw undermines trust and creates fear in our community," San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said later.
What People Are Saying
San Diego Councilman Sean Elo-Rivera shared a photograph of ICE agents on his Instagram page, which had the word "TERRORISTS" scrawled in red across it.
He wrote a post alongside the image, saying: "Look at this photo. This isn't a war zone—it's a neighborhood in our city. In San Diego, they've targeted parents dropping off their kids at school, people following the law inside courthouses, and workers just doing their jobs at local restaurants.
"These are federal agents carrying out raids on under the false pretense of 'safety.' This isn't safety. It's state-sponsored terrorism. And anyone who cares about freedom—and true safety—should be fighting back."
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Todd Lyons said: "I'm sorry if people are offended by them wearing masks, but I'm not going to let my officers and agents go out there and put their lives on the line, their family on the line because people don't like what immigration enforcement is."
He went on to add: "Is that the issue here, that we're just upset about the masks? Or is anyone upset about the fact that ICE officers' families were labeled terrorists?"
What Happens Next
Lyons told Fox & Friends on Sunday that ICE was currently averaging around 1,600 arrests per day across the U.S. However, Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser, says he wants to see that total reaching 3,000 arrests per day.
In the meantime, the debate looks set to continue as Trump pushes ahead with his crackdown.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
25 minutes ago
- New York Post
DC Dems safety delusions: Letters to the Editor — Aug. 18, 2025
The Issue: Democrats' opposition to the Trump administration's takeover of Washington, DC, policing. It's actually quite astounding watching Democrats protesting against a safer Washington, DC. They must like the murders, carjackings, robberies and sexual assaults that happen on a daily basis ('$oros DC protests,' Aug. 13). They must also relish victimhood. J.J. Levine Miami Beach, Fla. In response to President Trump dispatching federal officers to the streets of DC, Sen. Chuck Schumer said, 'I feel perfectly safe' walking around the US Capitol grounds and vicinity. Of course, he forgot to mention that he has 24-hour taxpayer-funded security and the use of a car. I bet his younger staffers who don't enjoy around-the-clock security may whisper that they don't share their boss' view. David Tulanian Henderson, Nev. Stating that the statistics prove that DC crime is down, Hillary Clinton has accused Trump of overreacting to Washington's out-of-control crime problem. Perhaps 'Her Majesty' should speak to a large audience comprised solely of crime victims in Washington who haven't a single Secret Service agent assigned to protect them. And when one of them asks her about the agents that are assigned to her, Bill and Chelsea, her answer would surely be enlightening. Could it possibly be: 'Well, our lives are very important and yours aren't?' Myron Hecker Pearl River I guess I was naive to expect Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser to completely agree with Trump's National Guard mobilization to combat crime in DC. She would rather protect the city's autonomy than protect the citizens who get beaten, robbed and carjacked by roving, marauding thugs infesting her district. Joseph Valente Miami Beach, Fla. Of course, we have our usual and typical left-leaning idiots led by Chuck 'Humor,' who continues to be a clown. He had the audacity to go on live TV and say that DC is fine, and he walks around the city every day. What he omits is the fact that he is escorted by Capitol Police while walking and also while roaming the halls of Congress. Ask the people who are beaten and carjacked daily how safe Washington, DC, really is. Lou Bivona Belleville, NJ The Issue: The Toronto International Film Festival's effort to exclude an Oct. 7 documentary. Of course liberals in the Canadian film industry wouldn't have wanted the world to see what Hamas did to innocent civilians on Oct. 7, 2023 ('Backlash at film festival,' Aug. 15). Those who committed such heinous atrocities should not be entitled to any 'legal clearance.' Betsy Flor Putnam Valley As a member of Everything Jewish Toronto, I'm writing to say how pleased many of us are for your front-page coverage of TIFF's initial refusal to show the Oct. 7 movie. It was clear antisemitism, and most of the Canadian media ignored it. Thank you for your great coverage. Arthur Weinreb Toronto, Ontario With individuals and groups around the world minimizing what occurred on Oct. 7 — and frankly, dehumanizing the Israeli victims — it is crucial that this documentary film is included in the Toronto International Film Festival to be released for all to see. Amy Hendel Tarzana, Calif. I wonder, looking back to World War II, if we should have gotten Hitler's permission to use death camp footage in Frank Capra's films on the war atrocities. This is just ridiculous. John Giriat The Bronx Want to weigh in on today's stories? Send your thoughts (along with your full name and city of residence) to letters@ Letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, accuracy, and style.
The Hill
25 minutes ago
- The Hill
Politics won't help the planet — just ask Jay Inslee
With passage of a federal budget that cuts subsidies for renewables like wind and solar and an executive order promising to 'end taxpayer support for unaffordable and unreliable 'green' energy sources,' climate activists are considering new approaches to reduce the impact of greenhouse gases. One such champion stepping forward is former Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee. Inslee made fighting climate change the rhetorical centerpiece of his time as governor and his short-lived presidential campaign. Inslee claims he made Washington state 'a leader' in the fight against climate change, and Time magazine gave him a 2025 Earth Award, saying the former governor 'believes in the power of local action.' Having worked on environmental policy for 25 years in Washington state, I can attest that following Inslee's lead would be a catastrophic mistake. In a recent editorial, he argued that Democrats should use climate change to 'win over young Trump voters.' His central, and repeated, error — the one he now encourages national climate activists to follow — is to treat climate change as a political tool, rather than focusing on effective solutions. In fact, Washington state's carbon dioxide emissions increased every year of Inslee's first decade in office, except 2020. The governor's policies were so ineffective that, in 2019, Florida's per capita CO2 emissions were actually lower than Washington state's, having been 10 percent higher just six years earlier. Florida, with no meaningful climate policy, outperformed Washington with Jay Inslee at the helm. Given a choice between candidly assessing the results of his policies and political expediency, the governor routinely chose politics. When he took office, Inslee promised to track the results of his policies, creating a web page that showed progress toward climate goals. He said the goal was to use that data to fix problems and improve outcomes. But in 2019, just prior to announcing his presidential campaign, Inslee's administration shut down the page. His administration was missing virtually all its targets, an embarrassing reality for the 'climate candidate.' Washington is now so far behind its 2030 emissions targets the state will have to cut CO2 emissions by the equivalent of three COVID-level pandemic shutdown reductions cumulatively. Washington's electric vehicle policy is another example of how the state has performed so poorly. Last year, Inslee announced a $45 million program of subsidies to help 'provide low-income Washingtonians access to electric vehicles.' The results were mixed at best, failing to 'ensure the rebates reached overburdened and vulnerable communities.' Governor Inslee deflects from those failures, instead focusing on the CO2 cap-and-trade system that took effect in 2023, promising that it will deliver results in the future. However, early results show projects funded by that system are failing to deliver emissions reductions. His own administration released a report showing that approximately two-thirds of the state's climate projects create no 'quantifiable emissions reductions.' The pattern has been to make bold statements and send out press releases claiming victory while repeatedly failing to deliver. With each failure, Inslee relied on partisanship to paper over policy failures. That approach earned Jay Inslee national attention and accolades. It did not, however, help the planet. This strategy is irresponsible and creates cynicism that undermines the ability to promote effective climate policy. Those who are sincere about climate and environmental policy are at a crossroads. They can take the route suggested by Inslee and put politics first, or they can honestly assess the record of the past two decades of climate policy and look for a better approach. Those who believe climate change is — as Jay Inslee has often said — an 'existential crisis' must live up to that rhetoric and ostracize self-serving politicians whose use of climate change as a political weapon has become a major barrier to addressing the problem. Politicians should look to companies like Microsoft and Amazon that invest in projects that are certified to reduce CO2 emissions — and if they don't, the funding is returned. Prioritizing efforts based on effectiveness and innovation, rather than political grandstanding, is the only way to responsibly reduce the risk from climate change. During the next three-and-a-half years of the Trump administration, those who care about reducing the risk from climate change can take the partisan (and failed) path that Inslee recommends. Or they can begin to find alternatives that aren't contingent on politics and, instead, focus on results. Todd Myers has worked on energy and environmental policy in Washington state for 25 years and is vice president for research at the Washington Policy Center in Seattle.
Newsweek
26 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Ukraine Responds to Putin's Reported Demands to Trump
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. It would be "totally unacceptable" for Kyiv to give up its eastern regions for a peace deal, a senior Ukrainian politician has said, as Ukrainian officials prepare to meet President Donald Trump and European leaders in Washington on Monday. Reuters reported on Sunday that Russia had said it would offer slivers of land it currently controls in Ukraine in exchange for Kyiv ceding chunks of land in the east that Russia does not currently control, citing sources briefed on the Kremlin's thinking. Under the proposal, Ukraine would fully withdraw from Donetsk and Luhansk, with the current front lines in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions to the south frozen in place, according to the report. For Ukraine, it is politically and militarily off the table to consent to losing the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Oleksandr Merezhko, the chair of Ukraine's parliamentary foreign affairs committee and a member of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's party, previously told Newsweek. President Donald Trump greets Russian President Vladimir Putin as he arrives at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on August 15, 2025, in Anchorage, Alaska. President Donald Trump greets Russian President Vladimir Putin as he arrives at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on August 15, 2025, in Anchorage, Kremlin declared in fall 2022 that Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions were now part of Russia after referendums widely condemned as a sham. Russia had seized Crimea, to the south of the mainland, from Ukraine in 2014. Moscow does not control all of the four mainland Ukrainian regions, but has long focused on asserting its grip on Donetsk and Luhansk. They are collectively known as the Donbas, and form much of Ukraine's industrial heartland. The current proposal is a "provocation" from the Kremlin chief, and one to which Ukraine can never agree, Merezhko said. Kyiv has repeatedly said it is against the country's constitution to give land away to Moscow. The Russian and Ukrainian positions on what the Kremlin would control in any ceasefire agreement or peace deal have always been far apart, and there is little hint that this has changed on either side. But what may have shifted is President Donald Trump's patience to entertain steadfast Russian demands. The Republican had in recent months expressed increasing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but said off the back of the two leaders' first meeting of Trump's second term that the summit was "useful." No deal was announced, and Trump pivoted his position on a ceasefire, saying he would move straight to a permanent peace deal. Zelensky said on Saturday Russia's refusal to sign a ceasefire "complicates the situation." Russia is not in a position to seize Donetsk through military means, and, for Ukraine, the region has huge strategic importance, Merezhko said. Close to three-and-years of full-scale war has seen Russia gain control of large areas of Luhansk and Donetsk, but much of the latter still remains in Ukrainian control. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a U.S.-based think tank that tracks the daily changes to the front lines in the conflict, said earlier this month Ukraine still controls roughly 6,500 square kilometers of territory in Donetsk—equivalent to a quarter of the region. Russia's slow but steady gains, concentrated in Donetsk, have come at an eyewatering human cost, according to Ukrainian and Western assessments. Crucially, west of the front lines, in Ukrainian-held Donetsk, are several cities known as "fortress settlements" that are vital to Ukraine's defenses. The region is a "bulwark" for Ukraine to shield its other regions, Merezhko said. After the Anchorage summit, Trump told European leaders that he backed a plan in which Ukraine would cede territory it still controlled to Russia, The New York Times reported, citing two senior European officials. Several European leaders will travel to participate in Zelensky's meeting at the White House on Monday, including British Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer.
