Giving thanks: Republican lawmakers express gratitude for ICE workers in DHS video
As Thanksgiving approaches, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has taken to social media to express appreciation for the work of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. In a video montage featuring several Republican lawmakers, including Iowa Senator Joni Ernst and Tennessee Representative Andy Ogles, the DHS highlights the gratitude these officials feel for ICE’s role in immigration enforcement. Ernst emphasized her “heartfelt thanks” to the men and women of ICE, while Ogles pointedly thanked them for their efforts in deporting what he termed “illegal invaders” from American communities. The DHS’s post on X (formerly Twitter) reinforces this sentiment, acknowledging the commitment of ICE agents who continue their work during the holiday season to ensure community safety.
This public endorsement of ICE comes amidst a backdrop of heightened tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the United States. The Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration has intensified, leading to a notable increase in reported assaults against ICE agents. According to DHS statistics, the number of assaults against ICE personnel surged from 19 incidents in the same period of the previous year to 238 in 2025, marking a staggering 1,153% increase. This spike in violence has been attributed by DHS officials to the inflammatory rhetoric from certain politicians who advocate for sanctuary policies, which they claim embolden anti-ICE sentiments. As the holiday season unfolds, the DHS’s message underscores the ongoing debate over immigration policy and the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in executing their duties amid rising hostility.
As Americans around the nation prepare to celebrate the
Thanksgiving
holiday, the Department of Homeland Security posted a video on social media that features a montage of Republican lawmakers expressing their gratitude for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement workers.
Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa noted that with Thanksgiving approaching, she wanted to provide her “heartfelt thanks to the great men and women of ICE.”
“This Thanksgiving, I thank you for your service, and for deporting the illegal invaders who’ve flooded our communities,” Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee said.
DHS SAYS FOUR HOUSE DEMOCRATS ‘CHOSE TO STAND WITH CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS’ AFTER VISITING ICE DETAINEE
The DHS
post
on X that features the video reads, “This Thanksgiving, we’re grateful to the dedicated men and women of @ICEgov who are working through the holiday to keep our communities safe. From the halls of Congress, thank you for your continued service and commitment.”
The video, which also includes House Speaker Mike Johnson and various other Republicans, comes as President Donald Trump’s administration has been conducting an
illegal immigration crackdown
around the country.
WAR ON BADGES: HOUSE GOP TARGETS ANTI-POLICE RHETORIC AMID ICE ATTACKS
The
Department of Homeland Security
has noted a spike in reported assaults against ICE this year compared to last year.
SANCTUARY POLITICIANS’ RHETORIC LED TO 1,150% SURGE IN VIOLENCE AGAINST ICE AGENTS: DHS
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“From January 21, 2024, through November 21, 2024, there were only 19 reported assaults against ICE law enforcement, while in the same timeframe in 2025 there were 238 reported assaults. This is a 1,153% increase in assaults,” a
DHS release
noted.
