Democratic lawmakers and state officials are facing backlash after announcing plans to launch online tools designed to monitor federal immigration enforcement operations nationwide — a move that Department of Homeland Security officials warn could jeopardize the safety of agents.
At a press conference Monday, Rep. Robert Garcia, D-California, ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, said Democrats plan to publish a “master ICE tracker” to document enforcement activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and other federal agencies. Garcia said the tracker would collect reports from the public and display verified instances of immigration operations.
“We are going to be tracking every single instance that we can verify that the community will be able to send us information on,” Garcia said.
Garcia also said the tool would be hosted on the Oversight Committee’s website. However, House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil, R-Wisconsin, said it would not be allowed on any official congressional platform. “The House of Representatives absolutely will not maintain a website that tracks or doxes ICE agents,” Steil said.
In the wake of violent domestic terror attacks, bounties, and more than 1000% increase in assaults against our ICE officers, radical sanctuary politicians are now building a “Master ICE tracker” to solicit and share information on the movements of our ICE officers.
Let’s call… pic.twitter.com/UPzeWq7IRP
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) October 22, 2025
The announcement comes as New York Attorney General Letitia James unveiled a separate “federal action reporting form” to collect video footage and tips about ICE activity in New York City following a DHS raid on Canal Street earlier this week. The operation led to several arrests of illegal migrants from West Africa accused of selling counterfeit goods, as well as four protesters charged with obstructing officers.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized James’ effort and Garcia’s proposed tracker, warning that such initiatives could cross legal boundaries and undermine law enforcement operations. “This sure looks like obstruction of justice,” McLaughlin said. “Our brave ICE law enforcement face a 1,000 percent increase in assaults against them. If you obstruct or assault our law enforcement, we will hunt you down and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said the administration remains focused on removing criminal illegal aliens. “Any individuals who attempt to illegally interfere with operations or assault law enforcement officers will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Jackson said.
Garcia defended his proposal as a transparency initiative, saying Democrats want to document what they view as “civil rights violations” in ICE operations. However, DHS officials and House Republicans say the tracker would effectively broadcast sensitive enforcement information and expose officers to increased risks.
“This is a reckless assault on law enforcement that endangers ICE agents and compromises public safety,” Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., said in a statement to The Blaze.
The planned tracker and state tip line have intensified the broader political fight over immigration enforcement as the Trump administration continues mass deportations and targeted operations against criminal aliens nationwide.
