The Department of Homeland Security last week sharply rejected allegations from Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, that immigration officials were blocking detainees from meeting with attorneys, calling the claims false and politically motivated.
“Congresswoman Pingree is lying for likes and fundraising dollars,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. “Any allegation that ICE is blocking illegal aliens from having legal counsel at immigration appointments is FALSE. These types of smears are contributing to our officers facing a 1000% increase in assaults against them.”
McLaughlin added that “DHS responds to official correspondence through official channels.”
Pingree’s office last week accused U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of restricting attorney access at the agency’s Scarborough, Maine, facility. The claim came as Portland, Maine, area television stations highlighted the exact location of the Scarborough site, sparking criticism from immigration officials and security experts that such disclosures could make federal facilities and employees more vulnerable to demonstrations or attacks.
Calls to the Congresswoman’s office seeking a comment were not returned at time of publication.
Concerns over safety escalated further last Wednesday after Joshua Jahn, 29, opened fire at an ICE facility in Dallas, striking three detainees before dying of a self inflicted gunshot wound. One detainee later died and another remains in serious condition, authorities said. Investigators said some of the rounds contained anti ICE messages. No ICE personnel were injured.
The Dallas incident is under investigation by local police, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.
ICE has long been at the center of political disputes, with critics denouncing detention practices and deportation policies while supporters argue the agency is vital to national security and public safety. Federal officials say hostile rhetoric has increasingly translated into real world threats, pointing to a surge in assaults against ICE personnel.
