Anti-ICE protests and the rise of sanctuary jurisdictions are straining federal immigration enforcement efforts, forcing the agency to divert personnel and hindering its ability to carry out arrests and deportations, acting Director Todd Lyons told The Washington Times.

Lyons attributed much of the disruption to political rhetoric that, he said, has fueled hostility toward Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. Most of the bombastic and inflammatory rhetoric has come from Democrats and the left-leaning media.

In a wide-ranging interview, Lyons defended ICE’s operations and criticized Democratic-run sanctuary jurisdictions for encouraging what he described as attacks, misinformation, and unrest directed at his officers, the TimesHe also sought to dispel several misconceptions about the agency, including claims that it arrests U.S. citizens or targets children at schools. Lyons said ICE agents seen near schools are often searching for unaccompanied migrant children released into the U.S. by the Biden administration who have since gone missing.