San Diego City Councilman Sean Elo-Rivera has ignited a firestorm of controversy after labeling Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as “terrorists” on social media. The inflammatory remark has drawn sharp rebuke from the White House and federal officials who view the characterization as dangerous rhetoric. Does this moment coincide with the reported increase in assaults on ICE agents?
San Diego Councilman’s Inflammatory Statements
San Diego City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera sparked national outrage after posting an Instagram story featuring a photo of ICE agents with the word “Terrorists” emblazoned across it. The controversial post also included the song “Bulls On Parade” by Rage Against the Machine, further emphasizing his confrontational stance toward federal immigration authorities.
In subsequent social media posts, Elo-Rivera escalated his rhetoric, describing ICE agents as “jackbooted thugs” and “criminals” while characterizing their enforcement actions as “state-sponsored terrorism.” His posts gained wider attention after being highlighted by Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin, prompting Elo-Rivera to defend rather than retract his inflammatory language.
And the extremist rants keep coming from Democrat San Diego City Councilman @SeanEloRivera on Instagram, calling @ICEgov “terror” and “fascism.” pic.twitter.com/5iyM9fQ6Vg
— Amy Reichert (@amyforsandiego) June 2, 2025
White House Response and Law Enforcement Concerns
The White House issued a strong condemnation of Elo-Rivera’s statements, with advisor Stephen Miller warning that such rhetoric could incite violence against federal officers. Miller characterized the councilman’s comments as “encouraging violence against law enforcement to aid and abet the invasion of America,” reflecting the administration’s view that such language crosses a dangerous line.
ICE officials have reported a troubling increase in assaults on their officers, potentially exacerbated by hostile rhetoric from public officials in sanctuary jurisdictions. An ICE spokesperson called Elo-Rivera’s comparison “SICKENING” and emphasized that it endangers agents who are simply enforcing laws enacted by Congress.
Well. Democrat @SeanEloRivera just doubled down—with a NEW Instagram post calling @ICEgov fascists and terrorists.
Even worse? The far-left @CAWorkingFams union liked it. pic.twitter.com/kUoDrQjQZT— Amy Reichert (@amyforsandiego) May 31, 2025
Conflicting Narratives on ICE Operations
Elo-Rivera has defended his characterization by claiming that ICE targets parents, law-abiding citizens, and workers in San Diego under false pretenses. He argues that raids are conducted “under the false pretense of ‘safety'” and cites Cornell Law School’s lack of a universal terrorism definition to justify his inflammatory description.
Federal officials strongly dispute this portrayal, maintaining that ICE operations primarily target individuals with serious criminal records. According to Homeland Security officials, recent enforcement actions have focused on individuals with convictions for drug trafficking, sexual assault, and other serious offenses rather than minor immigration violations.
Patricia Hyde, an ICE official, has noted that “the lack of cooperation is getting worse and worse, and it’s putting law enforcement lives in danger.” This growing tension between federal immigration authorities and local officials in sanctuary jurisdictions has created increasingly dangerous conditions for agents performing their duties.
Despite facing widespread criticism for his inflammatory language, Elo-Rivera has refused to apologize or moderate his rhetoric. The ongoing controversy has further inflamed debates about immigration enforcement policies and the appropriate boundaries of political discourse regarding federal law enforcement agencies.