Trump condemns Democratic bill to unmask ICE agents after Texas ambush; new charges highlight anti-government plot.

Trump Blasts Lawmakers as ICE Ambush Fallout Grows

President Donald Trump strongly criticized Democratic Senators Cory Booker and Alex Padilla on Wednesday after they introduced the Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement (VISIBLE) Act. The bill would require federal immigration agents with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to wear visible ID badges and prohibit them from using face masks that obscure their identities while on duty. Trump, addressing the issue during a lunch with African leaders, argued that such measures would endanger agents and their families, stating, “They must hate our country, or they wouldn’t be saying that.”

“These officers are doing a tremendous job,” Trump continued. “They’re great patriots. If you expose them, you put them in tremendous danger.” He noted the rise in violence and recent targeting of immigration officers, including a brazen attack on July 4 in Alvarado, Texas, where a police officer was shot and federal agents ambushed outside the Prairieland ICE Detention Center. Authorities say at least ten people dressed in black, carrying weapons and radios, set off fireworks to lure officers before opening fire.

Texas Attack Sparks Federal Charges, New Details

Federal prosecutors have now charged eleven individuals in connection with the Texas ambush. Among those arrested is Daniel Rolando Sanchez Estrada, a Mexican national and green card holder, who allegedly attempted to conceal anti-government and anti-Trump documents linked to the attack. According to court records, Sanchez was contacted by one of the arrested attackers and tried to remove evidence and materials that included guides on “insurrectionary anarchy” and flyers with slogans such as “War in the Streets.” Authorities described these as insurrectionist propaganda and warned that this reflects an organized effort to undermine law enforcement.

The group is accused of plotting the attack using encrypted messaging apps and staging locations in the Dallas area. Evidence includes tactical gear, multiple firearms, and planning documents for civil unrest. A twelfth suspect, a former Marine reservist, remains at large with a reward offered for information leading to his capture.

Democratic lawmakers, meanwhile, defend their bill as a response to reports of unmarked agents detaining people and impersonation risks. Senator Booker argued, “The lack of visible identification and uniform standards for immigration enforcement officers has created confusion, stoked fear, and undermined public trust in law enforcement.” But Republicans, including Trump, counter that requiring visible identification and unmasking would make agents prime targets for violence.

The Alvarado incident has heightened tensions nationally, with both parties trading blame over public safety and the future of immigration enforcement. As federal charges mount and the debate intensifies, the safety of immigration officers and the balance between transparency and security remain at the forefront of national attention.