Death Threats Against ICE Officers Rise 8,000 Percent; FBI Warning on ICE Impersonation
The number of death threats made against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) law enforcement officers is rising sharply.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says there has been an 8,000 percent increase in the number of death threats against ICE officers. There has also been a 1,000 percent increase in the number of reported assaults against ICE officers.
This as ICE has been a centerpoint in the Trump administration’s escalated campaign to remove illegal migrants from the United States.
“From bounties placed on their heads for their murders, threats to their families, stalking, and doxxing online, our officers are experiencing an unprecedented level of violence and threats against them and their families,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “This violence against law enforcement must end.”
ICE cited several recent arrests tied to such threats, including Eduardo Aguilar, an undocumented migrant in Texas who allegedly posted on TikTok in Spanish soliciting the murder of ICE agents, and Joseph Giancola of Florida, who is accused of making multiple online death threats.
And on Monday, an ICE officer was seriously injured after being hit in the face with a metal coffee cup while conducting an arrest in Houston.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized that the department will continue to enforce immigration laws and prosecute anyone who targets federal officers.
The public can report threats, doxxing, and harassment against ICE officers by calling 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or by completing ICE’s online tip form.
FBI Warning on ICE Impersonation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is warning about criminals posing as ICE officers, particularly as some officers are wearing masks at certain times.
The FBI is urging partner agencies to “adequately identify themselves during operations and cooperate with individuals who request further verification, such as calling their local precinct to verify the officer’s identity.”
The FBI notes several cases including an August incident in New York where robbers falsely identified themselves as ICE when robbing a restaurant and an April incident in Florida where a man posed as an ICE officer to kidnap a woman, who later escaped.