The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the arrest of two New Jersey men Tuesday who allegedly threatened to torture and murder assistant secretary of Homeland Security for public affairs Tricia McLaughlin.
Authorities charged Ricardo Antonio Roman-Flores and Emilio Roman-Flores over posts on social media that declared their intentions to shoot United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on sight and to hang McLaughlin, according to a Tuesday release by DHS. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons vowed that threats against officials would not be tolerated.
“Let this be a warning to anyone who dares threaten or attack our brave law enforcement officers,” Lyons said in the release. “We will find you, we will arrest you, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. We are NOT afraid of you. The extreme rhetoric of the news media, sanctuary politicians, and activists is leading directly to our law enforcement officers facing an 8,000% increase in death threats against them. If you threaten our law enforcement or DHS officials, we will hunt you down and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Firearms and ammunition seized during a raid on two New Jersey men who allegedly threatened Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin. (Department of Homeland Security)
McLaughlin has been a vocal critic of anti-ICE rhetoric in multiple media appearances while in her position as the top spokesperson for DHS.
The Trump administration’s efforts to enforce immigration law have faced violent resistance at times. On Nov.29, rioters in New York City attempted to thwart an operation by ICE.
ICE facilities in Chicago and Portland, Oregon, have been the scene of multiple riots as opposition to the agency’s operations targeting illegal immigrants intensified. During ICE operations in Chicago, agents were reportedly attacked by multiple assailants who used cars to ram vehicles.
DHS said in a Sept. 26 post on X there had been multiple violent attacks on an ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois. In Portland, Oregon, violent protesters reportedly attacked conservative journalists covering the riots at the ICE facility and also reportedly planned to use lasers against aircraft used by federal law enforcement agencies.
Two people were killed during a Sept. 24 shooting targeting an ICE facility in the Dallas area, when a gunman, who committed suicide, opened fire at the facility. In Texas, there were at least two previous incidents when shots were fired at ICE or Border Patrol facilities in July, with ten people being charged with attempted murder and conspiracy in connection with the incident in Alvarado, Texas.
McLaughlin did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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