Fact Check: Assaults on ICE have increased nearly 700% over the same time last year.

Fact Check: "Assaults on ICE have increased nearly 700% over the same time last year."

What We Know

The claim that assaults on ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officers have increased nearly 700% over the same time last year has been circulated by various sources, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). According to a recent report, DHS stated that there has been a 690% increase in assaults against ICE officers, with the number of reported assaults rising from 10 to 79 within the specified time frame (January 21 to June 30) compared to the previous year (source-4, source-5).

However, the context of these numbers is crucial. The 10 assaults reported in the previous year covered a longer time frame (approximately 17 months), while the 79 assaults reported this year only covered 5 months (source-3). This discrepancy raises questions about the validity of comparing these two figures directly.

Analysis

The claim of a 700% increase in assaults is misleading due to the significant difference in the time periods being compared. The 10 assaults reported in the previous year were from a much longer time frame, while the 79 assaults reported this year were from a much shorter period. A more accurate assessment would consider the rate of assaults per day, which shows an increase from approximately 0.062 assaults per day to 0.189 assaults per day — a change of about 304%, not 700% (source-3).

Moreover, the credibility of the sources reporting these figures varies. The DHS has been criticized for its lack of transparency regarding how these assault figures are calculated and reported. For example, a column in the Washington Post questioned the 413% increase previously cited by DHS, noting that the agency has not provided clear evidence or context for its claims (source-2). Additionally, the reliance on percentage increases without providing absolute numbers can be misleading, as it does not convey the actual scale of the incidents (source-7).

Conclusion

The claim that assaults on ICE have increased nearly 700% over the same time last year is False. The significant difference in the time frames being compared undermines the validity of the percentage increase. While there has been an increase in reported assaults, the actual numbers suggest a much lower rate of increase than what is being claimed. The lack of transparency and clarity from DHS regarding these statistics further complicates the reliability of the claim.

Fact Check: Assaults on ICE have increased nearly 700% over the same time last year.