Ten individuals were arrested following a violent, coordinated assault on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Texas, an event that ICE officials say reflects escalating threats against the agency.

The armed attack on the Prairieland Detention Facility in Alvarado left one local police officer injured, involved suspects in tactical gear, and ignited a national debate about rhetoric toward immigration authorities, The Christian Post reported.

The incident occurred last Friday at the Prairieland Detention Facility in Alvarado, a town located south of Fort Worth. According to officials, a group of assailants wearing tactical gear and carrying firearms launched a planned ambush on the facility, operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Authorities reported that during the exchange of gunfire, a local police officer responding to the attack was wounded. The officer has since been treated and released from the hospital. Law enforcement credited swift medical attention and protective gear for the officer's recovery.

By Tuesday, ICE had announced that 10 suspects connected to the attack had been arrested. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which is leading the investigation, confirmed that one additional suspect remains at large.

Investigators pursue charges in violent raid

The ten individuals arrested are now facing multiple felony charges, including terrorism, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and aggravated assault against a peace officer. Some of the suspects allegedly had known ties to activist groups, authorities say misrepresent themselves as immigrant advocates.

An ICE spokesperson said the agency is working closely with the FBI and Texas Rangers to identify and prosecute all attackers. The agency expressed gratitude to local law enforcement officers who responded to the scene, including the injured Alvarado officer.

ICE Acting Director Todd M. Lyons condemned the incident, calling the level of violence "incomprehensible." Lyons stressed that the rise in physical confrontations against immigration officers is linked to growing political and social hostility.

ICE Director links violence to rhetoric

“This is precisely what we have been warning against, as disinformation and dangerous politically-motivated rhetoric spreads,” Lyons said in a prepared statement. He vowed aggressive prosecution of those responsible, saying ICE personnel must be protected "to the fullest extent of the law."

According to ICE, there has been a 700% increase in assaults against its personnel in recent years. The agency attributes this surge to individuals posing as humanitarian advocates while engaging in hostile activities toward immigration enforcement.

White House officials echoed concerns, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pointing to statements from Democratic politicians as a potential factor in encouraging hostility. On Monday, she stated that congressional Democrats should reexamine their tone when criticizing agencies like ICE and Border Patrol.

Debate grows over policing and immigration

"I would encourage Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other Democrats to meet with the United States Border Patrol," Leavitt said during a briefing. She characterized ICE officers as "honorable Americans" committed to enforcing the law under difficult conditions.

President Donald Trump, who returned to the White House in January, has directed ICE to increase immigration enforcement operations. His administration has tasked the agency with detaining up to 3,000 individuals per day, some of whom are apprehended in public spaces, sparking criticism from civil rights groups.

Several Democratic leaders have argued that ICE's methods are overly aggressive. Wisconsin Gov. Tim Walz referred to the agency under Trump as a "modern-day Gestapo" during a commencement address in May, referencing reports of people being detained without clear identification procedures.

Calls to reform or abolish ICE

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York has repeatedly called for the abolition of ICE, stating that the agency functions primarily as a deportation authority rather than a service focused on family protection. She has proposed a complete restructuring of immigration enforcement programs.

In a past statement, Gillibrand said the government should “separate immigration issues from criminal justice,” arguing that current ICE practices lack adequate oversight and transparency. Critics of the agency say the current operations create fear within immigrant communities.

While the political debate over ICE continues, officials stress that last week’s incident underscores rising threats against law enforcement. Authorities say ensuring the safety of officers and staff at detention facilities must remain a top priority during ongoing discussions about immigration reform.