People who harass ICE officials could face a prison sentence
Some supporters of the initiative argue that it will protect immigration officials against threats and acts against them
U.S. Senator Ashley Moody, Republican representative for Florida, introduced a bill called the Halo Act, which aims to prohibit people from getting too close to or harassing federal immigration agents while they are performing their duties. The proposal seeks to strengthen operational security in response to the recent increase in assaults. According to Fox News, the legislation would make it a crime for individuals with restraining orders to approach within 25 feet of a federal agent or interfere with their duties, including any form of physical threat. If passed, the measure would expand the legal resources available to protect these officials. The report details that violators would face penalties of up to five years in prison, in addition to fines determined by the courts. The Halo Act would establish harsher penalties for acts of harassment or intimidation against immigration agents, a growing demand within conservative circles. Moody told Fox News Digital that her support stems from her personal and professional experience. “As the wife of a law enforcement officer, a former attorney general, and now a U.S. senator, I have always stood up for those who selflessly serve our nation,” the legislator stated. The senator added that the recent attacks must be stopped immediately. “I am horrified by the news of people harassing and attacking federal agents as they simply try to do their jobs, and this must end,” Moody said in her statement. Her stance aligns with the Republican message of strengthening homeland security and expanding institutional protective powers. Supporters of the initiative assert that the Halo Act would protect immigration agents from a surge in death threats, harassment, doxing, and even illegal bounties for personal information, according to data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). However, critics fear that the measure will limit freedom of expression and the right to protest.
Over the past few months, protests have been held outside Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities in response to the federal government's mass deportation campaign. These actions have generated confrontations and tensions that fuel the debate on security and civil rights.
ICE and the Border Patrol have been criticized for alleged excessive use of force, including tear gas during deportation operations. Human rights organizations maintain that the expansion of detention centers and aggressive tactics increase risks for vulnerable families and exacerbate conditions considered inhumane.
In parallel, the Trump administration filed lawsuits against California over two state laws that require plainclothes officers to wear visible identification and restrict certain tactical equipment.
The Department of Justice asserts that these regulations violate the Supremacy Clause by interfering with federal enforcement. The DHS reported that, since January 20, there have been 99 vehicle attacks against federal forces, more than double the number from the previous year. CBP recorded 71 incidents, while ICE suffered 28 attacks, a 1300% increase compared to 2014, figures that have raised alarms within the government.

