The Department of Homeland Security on Thursday said death threats against ICE personnel have increased 8,000% as the agency moves to carry out President Trump’s deportation plans.
“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,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said.
The department did not provide a breakdown for the increase and the time period.
Previously, the department spoke of a 1,000% increase in assaults on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel but has declined to provide the data behind that. Critics have questioned the data, saying ICE was counting minor confrontations that didn’t rise to the level of serious or criminal behavior.
Ms. McLaughlin blamed sanctuary jurisdictions and the politicians who lead them for a growing anti-ICE sentiment she said was fueling the situation.
“This violence against law enforcement must end,” she said.
In one example provided by Homeland Security, an ICE officer’s spouse in Texas received a call that said, “I hope your kids get deported by accident,” and compared the family to Nazis.
The department also provided a social media post from last week in which someone called on people in Whatcom County, Washington, to “make life hard for ICE.”
The person urged people to follow and record the movements of agency personnel.
“They need to be told they are Nazis every day they come to work, they need to be reminded that they are Nazis every day when they go home. I start on my next day off, you should too,” the person posted.
Someone responded that “we used to hang traitors in this country” and “I hope we get back to that soon.”
“Me too my friend, me too,” said the original poster, operating under the screen name James Warren.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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