WASHINGTON, D.C. ––This morning, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY) and Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement Chairman Michael Guest (R-MS) discussed the increase in anti-law enforcement sentiment and the rise in threats and attacks against law enforcement officers and personnel, particularly following the recent attack on two National Guard members in Washington D.C.
 
Chairman Garbarino joined Newsmax’s “Wake Up America” and Subcommittee Chairman Guest joined NewsNation’s “Morning in America” to discuss the Committee’s hearing, which featured testimony from law enforcement stakeholders to examine what is fueling the increase in violence against local, state, and federal law enforcement, how this undermines their ability to carry out their homeland security and public safety missions, and how we can better support the men and women who protect our communities. 
 

Watch Chairman Garbarino’s hearing here.

 
On the rise in attacks outlined in today’s hearing:
 
“Just this year, over 55 officers have been shot nationwide. We’ve seen an over 60% increase in attacks on law enforcement officers––not just federal law enforcement but regular NYPD officers, sheriffs. We have the Sheriffs Association who is going to be talking about that today. But specifically, New York alone––NYPD officers have faced a 63% increase in attacks in the last six years. So, it’s not just ICE [agents], this is happening across the board. And that’s why it’s my first hearing. We have to focus on this increase of attacks on our law enforcement. These guys are doing their jobs. These men and women are out there protecting our country. And there’s political rhetoric right now that is putting targets on their backs.”
 
On how anti-law enforcement rhetoric is contributing to the rise in threats:
 
“They’re putting targets on the police officers’ backs, on law enforcement officers’ backs. And these men and women are out there enforcing the law. They’re not doing anything wrong. [Democrats are] calling them ‘Gestapo,’ calling them ‘secret police.’ They’re actually doing their job. They are following the law by enforcing the laws that are on the books. And now they have to put up with possibly being shot at random. The National Guard soldiers that were here, they were blindly attacked. These blindside attacks are increasing. Also, it’s tough to protect yourself against that. And I do blame it on the rhetoric. And that’s why we’re having this hearing today to focus on what that rhetoric nationwide is doing and putting our men and women in law enforcement at risk.”

On transnational gangs, radical groups, and lone wolves targeting law enforcement:
 
“I think there’s definitely some organization here for some of the larger attacks, and I think we’ll be looking into groups… We’re going to follow the money… When it comes to these organized gangs; when it comes to these organized groups that are putting out these statements. But I’m also concerned about the lone wolf actors. And there are quite a few of them, and those are even the tougher ones to protect against because, you know, gangs––we’ve infiltrated gangs before, we’ve infiltrated groups before, we can follow the money there. But a lot of these statements, there are people that are mentally unwell… and just walk up and randomly assault a police officer, shoot a police officer. And I’m very concerned because those are the toughest ones to protect against.”
 

Watch Rep. Guest’s interview here.

On the correlation between violent rhetoric and the surge of violence toward law enforcement: 
 
“We have seen statistics, particularly for threats and attacks against federal law enforcement, has escalated dramatically over the last year. DHS reports that physical attacks against ICE agents are up more than 1,000 percent… I believe a lot of this is driven by the rhetoric on the  left. We see members of Congress. We see governors. We see mayors refer to ICE as a terrorist organization, that they’re the modern-day Gestapo.”
 
On the suspect in the shooting of two National Guard members in D.C.: 
 
“We are trying to determine the vetting process that allowed him to come into this country. We know that there have been questions raised now for years. Many that came in the country through the Afghan program were improperly vetted… It’s something that Republicans have been talking about for some period of time. This will elevate that, and I think it is something that the White House is taking seriously.”

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