Federal agents fear for their families amid tensions, violence

(NewsNation) — In the middle of growing hostility toward law enforcement, some ICE officers and border patrol agents say the job they once took pride in has now made them targets.

An ICE officer exclusively spoke with NewsNation on the condition of anonymity, making clear the danger he and colleagues feel they are facing in the current social climate.

“I’ve always been proud of my job, but now, with the current climate and everybody seeming to want to attack us, even my family’s hesitant to say what I do.”

He says online harassment and doxing have become routine. The Department of Homeland Security is reporting a 1000% increase in assaults and attacks against federal officials.

The officer rebuked the notion that protests are merely peaceful.

“When you see protesters show up with knee pads, shields, gas masks — you realize these aren’t peaceful demonstrations anymore.”

But the greater threat, he believes, is the possibility of trouble moving from the streets to his home.

“We deal with danger every day. I signed up for this. My family didn’t," he said.

Clashes between protesters and federal law enforcement have been a regular occurrence in Chicago after the Trump administration sent a surge of resources to the sanctuary city last month to enforce immigration laws. On Thursday, a judge ordered the Department of Homeland Security to stop using tear gas and pepper balls on journalists.

Despite anger at the presence of National Guard troops and border agents in Chicago from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and some of the American public, one Border Patrol agent told NewsNation he is "proud" to be part of the Trump administration's mission.

“People call us Nazis or Gestapo, but what they don’t see is our medics caring for the injured. We treat everyone like human beings," the anonymous agent said.

He also rejected the use of masks as anything other than a protective mechanism for officers and agents.

"Someone can take a picture and find everything about your family. That’s why we cover our faces; it’s for them.”