Republican Lawmakers Thank ICE Workers in DHS Video

In a rare display of bipartisan appreciation before Thanksgiving, the Department of Homeland Security released a video montage featuring Republican lawmakers expressing gratitude to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel who continue working through the holiday season.

The compilation, shared on DHS’s official X account, includes messages from several prominent GOP figures, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, who offered her “heartfelt thanks to the great men and women of ICE” as the holiday approaches.

Representative Andy Ogles of Tennessee was more pointed in his message, thanking ICE officers “for deporting the illegal invaders who’ve flooded our communities,” language that reflects the harder stance on immigration enforcement championed by President Donald Trump’s administration.

The timing of the video coincides with the administration’s intensified nationwide crackdown on illegal immigration, a cornerstone policy that has gained momentum in recent months. Immigration enforcement has become an increasingly polarized issue in American politics, with Republican lawmakers generally supporting stricter border control and deportation efforts, while many Democratic lawmakers have advocated for more humanitarian approaches.

“This Thanksgiving, we’re grateful to the dedicated men and women of @ICEgov who are working through the holiday to keep our communities safe,” reads the DHS post. “From the halls of Congress, thank you for your continued service and commitment.”

The public expression of support comes against a backdrop of significantly increased violence directed at ICE officers. According to official DHS statistics, there has been an alarming 1,153% increase in reported assaults against ICE law enforcement personnel. From January through November 2024, only 19 assaults were reported, compared to 238 during the same period in 2025.

DHS has attributed this dramatic rise in violence to rhetoric from politicians who support “sanctuary” policies limiting local cooperation with federal immigration authorities. These policies, implemented in various cities and states across the country, have become flashpoints in the national debate over immigration enforcement.

The escalation in attacks against immigration officers has prompted additional concern among Republican lawmakers, some of whom have initiated efforts to address what they characterize as “anti-police rhetoric” contributing to a hostile environment for law enforcement, including ICE agents.

ICE’s role has expanded significantly under the current administration, with officers conducting more workplace raids, neighborhood sweeps, and deportation operations than in previous years. The agency has also increased its presence at public gatherings and transportation hubs in some regions, reflecting the administration’s prioritization of immigration enforcement.

Critics of the administration’s approach argue that aggressive enforcement tactics separate families and create fear in immigrant communities, including among legal residents. Supporters counter that strict enforcement is necessary for national security and to maintain the integrity of the immigration system.

The Thanksgiving message highlights the continuing political divide over immigration policy in America. While the holiday traditionally serves as a time for unity and reflection on shared values, the DHS video underscores how even expressions of gratitude can reflect deeper political divisions on one of the nation’s most contentious issues.

As ICE personnel continue their operations through the holiday weekend, the public recognition from lawmakers serves both as acknowledgment of their service and as a reminder of the politically charged environment in which they operate.