While the motive behind this latest attack remains unclear, it is evident that the political climate, marked by extreme rhetoric, has contributed to rising anti-immigration enforcement sentiment. This is reflected in the alarming 700% increase in attacks on ICE officers. Border Patrol agents are putting their lives on the line to protect America's borders, and it is crucial that they are treated with the respect and safety they deserve.
Violence against law enforcement is never acceptable, and the right is trying to politicize this latest tragedy by blaming it on those who oppose the Trump administration's draconian immigration policies that engender real hostility. Gun violence is fueled by the confluence of lax gun control and the poor state of mental health care in this country. It's also important to remember that Trump pardoned those who attacked law enforcement at the Capitol on Jan. 6.