White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is urging Democratic lawmakers to tone down the anti-ICE, anti-Border Patrol rhetoric after a gunman opened fire upon Border Patrol agents at an annex facility in McAllen, Texas on Monday,
Leavitt namechecked New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, in particular.
“We certainly call on Democrats to tone down their rhetoric against ICE and Border Patrol agents, who, again, are everyday men and women. I would encourage AOC and other Democrats to actually meet with the United States Border Patrol,” Leavitt told reporters on Monday. “These are honorable Americans who are just simply trying to do their job to enforce the law. They go home to their families every night, just like we all do, and they deserve respect and dignity for trying to enforce our nation’s immigration laws and to remove public safety threats from our communities.”
Watch the clip below:
Karoline Leavitt to Democrats: Tone Down Your Rhetoric
"We certainly call on Democrats to tone down their rhetoric against ICE and border patrol agents… I would encourage AOC and other Democrats to actually meet with the United States Border Patrol. These are honorable… pic.twitter.com/6xMpFBhIhQ
— Mr Producer (@RichSementa) July 7, 2025
Homeland Security officials confirmed the attacker was killed at the scene.
“Both Border Patrol agents and local police helped neutralize the shooter,” a DHS spokesperson said in an email to Fox News Digital Monday. “Two officers and a Border Patrol employee were injured, including one shot in the knee. All three have gone to the hospital. This is an ongoing investigation led by the FBI.”
Fox News border correspondent Bill Melugin shared photos from the scene.
BREAKING: Three federal & TX law enforcement sources tell me an active shooter with a rifle & tactical gear ambushed Border Patrol agents as they arrived at a Border Patrol annex facility in McAllen, TX this morning. Local police and federal agents returned fire, killing him. I’m… pic.twitter.com/xL3qw5G6OW
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) July 7, 2025
The Department of Homeland Security reported earlier in July that assaults against ICE officers and other federal immigration agents have risen nearly 700% in comparison to 2024.