To Understand Violent Anti-ICE Protests, ‘Follow the Money’

Articles | September 29, 2025 | by Catholics for Catholics

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Tricia McLaughlin, the Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs, says federal investigators are probing who is funding the violent street demonstrators.

By Catholics for Catholics

Follow the money.

Tricia McLaughlin, the Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs, told Newsmax that when it comes to covering the violent street protests against ICE in Portland and other cities to do what investigative journalists have always done when doing an in-depth probe: follow the money.

McLaughlin told Newsmax on Monday that the violent street demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities are turning more sophisticated and organized. Federal agencies are countering that by working together to uncover who is bankrolling the turmoil.

“We’re seeing that these protests, whether it be in Portland, whether it be in Los Angeles, whether it be in Chicago, they are becoming increasingly organized. There are people who are being bused in. They’re professional protesters. They do this as a full-time job for a living,” McLaughlin said. “And so, we’re following the money. We’re working as a whole-of-government approach that President Trump has directed. We’re working with the Treasury Department, Homeland Security Investigations, [and] FBI. Who is funding this chaos and violence?”

"If you don't like the law, lobby Congress to change it, but do not demonize the brave men and women who are simply enforcing the law on the books."

Tricia McLaughlin, DHS Secretary for Public Affairs, joined Monday's "National Report." pic.twitter.com/jmoh7g02ao

— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) September 29, 2025

McLaughlin spoke of a recent incident in Broadview, Illinois, where ICE has a detention facility. There, she said, agents confiscated two firearms from protesters during an instance that could have turned deadly.

“We just saw out of Broadview, which is a suburb out of Chicago. It’s a detention facility. We just took two firearms that were on protesters. Fortunately, no one was hurt,” she said.

The Illinois collision, McLaughlin added, is part of a pattern of mounting skirmishes. She also referenced recent aggression in Dallas as another example of how protests have shifted from peaceful to what she called “chaos and violence.”