Authorities in Idaho say a shocking attempted arson attack targeted a building housing offices leased to the Department of Homeland Security, underscoring growing tensions surrounding federal immigration enforcement.
Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea detailed the incident during a Thursday press conference, calling it a “serious criminal act” that put lives at risk and temporarily deprived the community of a critical emergency resource.
According to Basterrechea, the suspect allegedly stole an ambulance from St. Luke’s hospital, covered the vehicle in an accelerant, and rammed it into a building in Meridian owned by St. Luke’s Health System. The building contains office space leased to the Department of Homeland Security. Police say the suspect was apparently interrupted or frightened off before being able to ignite the fuel and carry out what authorities believe would have been a devastating fire.
“We want to emphasize that this was a serious criminal act,” Basterrechea said. “The theft and destruction of an emergency vehicle not only created risk to responding personnel, but it also temporarily removed a critical medical resource from the community.”
The suspect remains at large as the investigation continues.
Basterrechea also addressed the broader context surrounding the incident, suggesting that heated rhetoric about Homeland Security’s presence at the location may have contributed to the attack.
“There has been a lot of rhetoric surrounding the Department of Homeland Security leasing office space at this location,” he said. He specifically pointed to social media comments claiming that “property damage isn’t violence,” flatly rejecting that notion.
“‘Property damage isn’t violence,’ is absolutely false,” Basterrechea stated. “This was absolutely an act of violence, and if the suspect had not been interrupted, there is no doubt this building would have been burned, putting the lives of first responders and others at risk.”
The building that was struck by the stolen ambulance is owned by St. Luke’s Health System, which had leased space within it to Homeland Security. According to the Associated Press, that lease arrangement has been the subject of heated public debate.
The attempted arson comes at a time when federal immigration enforcement officials are facing a significant rise in threats and attacks. As agents work to implement President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda and enforce federal law, DHS has reported sharp increases in violence directed at its personnel.
Earlier this month, a DHS spokeswoman cited alarming statistics, saying officers are experiencing a 1,300% increase in assaults, a 3,200% increase in vehicular attacks, and an 8,000% increase in death threats.
“Thanks to rhetoric by sanctuary politicians and encouragement of illegal aliens to evade arrest, our officers are facing a 1,300% increase in assaults against them, a 3,200% increase in vehicular attacks, and an 8,000% increase in death threats against them,” the spokeswoman said. “Secretary Noem has been clear: anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Democratic politicians have frequently criticized federal immigration agents, particularly those with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with some going so far as to compare ICE agents to Nazi secret police.
As law enforcement continues its search for the suspect in the Meridian attack, officials are warning that rhetoric minimizing violence against federal agencies can have dangerous real-world consequences.
