Bill Sharer, Senate Republican Leader, said that Sen. Joseph Cervantes' rhetoric puts Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and their families in danger and urged him to stop inflaming violence. The statement was made in a press release.
"The kind of comments made by Senator Cervantes are putting our law enforcement officers at risk, as evidenced by recent attacks against them," said Sharer. "These officers are doing what they've always done, under both Republican and Democrat administrations. The rhetoric designed to get ICE agents killed MUST stop. Senator Cervantes, it's time to stand down."
Senator Joseph Cervantes of Las Cruces sparked controversy after comparing ICE to historic oppressive groups, a remark that Senate GOP leader Sharer argued could endanger law enforcement by inflaming public sentiment. According to NM Political Report, Sharer pointed to recent violence targeting ICE as evidence of the risks of such rhetoric, fueling debate in New Mexico about immigration enforcement and political discourse.
A September 2025 shooting at a Dallas ICE facility, where a gunman opened fire on the building and a detainee transport van, left one person dead and two injured. According to Reuters and the Associated Press, the incident underscored the increasing danger faced by ICE agents and was cited as part of a troubling trend of targeted violence against immigration enforcement.
Examples from recent years show how political rhetoric has at times preceded violence against law enforcement officers. In 2022, inflammatory social media posts about policing were linked to the ambush killing of two Louisiana officers, and broader protest movements have also seen rhetoric escalate into attacks. Law enforcement studies and retrospectives warn that dehumanizing speech lowers barriers to violent acts.
Sharer is a Republican state senator who has represented District 1 in New Mexico since 2001 and now serves as Senate Minority Floor Leader. According to the New Mexico Legislature, he is a small business owner and graduate of New Mexico Military Institute and New Mexico State University, with a focus on rural issues and public safety.
