DHS reports 8,000% rise in death threats against ICE officers and their families

WASHINGTON, DC: The Department of Homeland Security reported a sharp surge in violence against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on Tuesday, January 27.

DHS said death threats against ICE agents have increased by roughly 8,000 percent, while assaults have risen by more than 1,300 percent compared with the previous period.

As part of its statement, DHS released a chilling voicemail left for a Minnesota-based ICE agent in which a caller threatened the officer and his family.

DHS releases life‑threatening message left for an ICE agent

According to a Department of Homeland Security press release, the sharp rise in threats and attacks has occurred even as Immigration and Customs Enforcement continues its efforts to remove dangerous criminals from communities.

DHS also released the transcript of a voicemail left on January 24 for an ICE officer in Minnesota, calling it a disturbing example of the threats that agents and their families now face.

"You're a f*cking fascist p*g. You should f*cking kill yourself," the caller said. The voicemail then turned to threats against the officer's family, "I hope your wife dies. I hope your mom and dad die. I hope everything wrong that could go in your life happens. I hope you have the most miserable life."

The message escalated further, wishing catastrophic physical harm on the officer. "I hope you get hit by a bus. I hope you're paralyzed, and your wife leaves you," the voicemail said.

The caller accused the officer of betraying the country and repeatedly urged him to take his own life, "You are a traitor to the American people, to the values that made our country," the caller said. "You should kill yourself. You're f*cking disgusting."

The voicemail continued with graphic accusations aimed at ICE agents and leadership: "I hate you. Everyone hates you. You're a f*cking m*rderer," the caller said. "All of your friends are f*cking murderers. Your bosses are a bunch of p***philes." The message ended with the words, "Kill yourself."

DHS responds to rising attacks against ICE agents

Tricia McLaughlin, DHS assistant secretary for public affairs, said ICE officers are facing unprecedented attacks while enforcing federal law.

“Our ICE law enforcement officers are now facing an 8,000% increase in death threats against them and a more than 1,300% increase in assaults against them while they risk their lives every single day to remove murderers, p***philes, r*p*st, t*rrorists, and gang members from American neighborhoods,” McLaughlin said.

She placed blame squarely on political rhetoric coming from sanctuary jurisdictions. “Make no mistake, threatening rhetoric and this unprecedented violence against our law enforcement is incited by sanctuary politicians through their repeated vilification and demonization of law enforcement,” McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin warned that extreme comparisons have real-world consequences. “Comparing ICE day-in and day-out to the N*zi Gestapo, the Secret Police, and slave patrols has consequences,” she said. She emphasized that ICE agents are Americans with families who are now being targeted.

“The men and women of ICE are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters. They get up every morning to try and make our communities safer,” she added. McLaughlin called for an immediate end to what DHS described as the dehumanization of law enforcement. “Like everyone else, we just want to go home to our families at night. The violence and dehumanization of these men and women who are simply enforcing the law must stop.”

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem issued a warning to anyone threatening or attacking ICE agents. "You will not stop us or slow us down," Noem said, according to DHS. 

“ICE and our federal law enforcement partners will continue to enforce the law. Assaulting and obstructing law enforcement is not only dangerous but is a federal crime and a felony. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer or dox our officers, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” DHS concluded.