Threats Against Immigration Officials in Chicago
In Washington, it was reported that criminal groups in Mexico have proposed bounties as high as $50,000 for the assassination of executives from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
A recent intelligence bulletin from DHS disclosed a tiered bounty system with the lowest offer being $2,000, intended for gathering intelligence or targeting undercover agents, even extending to details about their families.
In neighborhoods like Pilsen and Little Village on Chicago’s southwest side, local gangs have stationed armed guards on rooftops to monitor police activity, communicating updates through radio.
DHS commented that this surveillance has facilitated ambushes and disruptions during standard enforcement operations, such as those under the recent Operation Midway Blitz. Non-lethal assaults on ICE and CBP personnel can reportedly cost gang members between $5,000 and $10,000.
“These criminal networks are not merely defying the law; they are executing organized acts of terror against valiant individuals safeguarding our borders and communities,” stated Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
Noem went on to emphasize that agents often face ambushes, drone surveillance, and death threats simply for implementing laws established by Congress. She reassured that there would be no retreat in the face of these threats, declaring that every criminal and terrorist involved would face justice.
Earlier this month, Noem highlighted concerns regarding international cartels offering bounties between $2,000 and $10,000 targeted at federal employees. “They are fully aware of the officers in the area and are quite effective; their goal is to eliminate those hindering their criminal operations,” she mentioned during an appearance on a weekend program.
The DHS bulletin also noted that Antifa groups in cities like Chicago and Portland have been aiding cartel members by providing logistical support, including supplies for protests and revealing identities of operatives, in order to shield cartel associations from deportation.
ICE facilities in Portland and the suburb of Broadview in Illinois have faced extensive protests from left-wing groups in recent weeks.
DHS has called on the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities, such as rooftop watchers, and asserted its determination not to be intimidated by these threats.
There has been an alarming uptick in targeted attacks against federal law enforcement officials. Just last week, a suspected gang member from the Latin Kings was apprehended for allegedly offering a bounty on Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino through a Snapchat message promising $10,000 for his harm.
Additionally, on September 24, a sniper attacked an ICE facility in Dallas, tragically killing one detainee and wounding two others before taking his own life. The FBI noted that the shooter had written “Anti ICE” on his ammunition.
In the same month, California enacted a law prohibiting federal immigration officers from hiding their identities with masks, and other states are reportedly considering similar legislation.
