Anti-ICE Riots Ignite Violent Clashes, Divide US Political Leaders

Since President Donald Trump returned to office in 2025, Democrats have sought to blame him for the violent anti-ICE riots, claiming his deployment of the National Guard escalated the unrest; however, evidence shows the chaos was already underway before his intervention, and public opinion polls reflect more disapproval than support for the protests. Democrats have also criticized ICE agents for wearing masks during raids, alleging secrecy, but ICE Director Todd Lyons defended the practice as necessary for officer safety amid doxxing and death threats. Violent protests in Los Angeles over ICE deportation actions included rioters waving foreign flags and attacking law enforcement, with some Democrats defending the protests or downplaying the violence, while Republicans condemned the unrest and highlighted the inconsistency in pardoning Jan. 6 rioters who also attacked officers. Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin condemned protesters carrying foreign flags during violence and contrasted this with the pardons issued by President Trump for Jan. 6 attackers, underscoring divisions over law enforcement and protest narratives. These events illustrate the polarized responses to immigration enforcement and civil unrest, with Trump and Republicans framing the issue as a law-and-order matter while many Democrats emphasize protest rights and critique ICE tactics. The immigration issue is becoming a political strength for Trump and the GOP, even gaining support among immigrant voters traditionally aligned with Democrats.