Carl Higbie did what too few in media will do: he called out the left for peddling hypocrisy while violent mobs assault federal officers. On his FRONTLINE show he rightly reminded Americans that rhetoric has consequences and that cheering on protests that become violent is not patriotism — it’s enabling lawlessness.
The truth is plain: the Camarillo and Carpinteria raids at Glass House Farms were chaotic and dangerous, resulting in hundreds of detentions and at least one tragic death when a worker fell while trying to evade authorities. Those operations were big, messy, and met with angry crowds that turned physical, showing how protests around enforcement actions can quickly become violent threats to public safety.
When federal officers found themselves pelted with rocks and bricks while doing their jobs, President Trump responded by giving ICE clear authority to protect themselves and arrest those who assault agents — a necessary step when mobs try to intimidate law enforcement. Conservatives and decent citizens should not apologize for defending officers who are carrying out lawful orders in dangerous situations.
This isn’t theoretical. In Portland prosecutors say Robert Jacob Hoopes threw rocks at an ICE officer, causing injuries and now facing serious federal charges for aggravated assault on a federal official. That case shows the line that was crossed: a rock is not a political statement, it is an attack, and it deserves to be treated like one.
Meanwhile, federal leaders are right to call out the media and extremist politicians who demonize law enforcement and thereby invite violence; the Department of Homeland Security has warned that dehumanizing rhetoric fuels assaults on agents. If we refuse to condemn violence when it comes from left-wing mobs, we are no different than those who excuse rioting when it serves their agenda.
Patriots want secure borders and fair enforcement done by people who follow the law, not vigilantes who hurl rocks and celebrate disorder. Carl Higbie’s blunt message — that you cannot throw rocks at ICE agents in Trump’s America and get a free pass — resonates because it defends order, protects workers and communities, and demands consequences for violent behavior.
