Incident Involving Man in ICE-Like Uniform in Honolulu

The Department of Homeland Security clarified that a man recently seen being attacked on a street in Honolulu while wearing clothing similar to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement uniform is not associated with the department.

A series of viral videos showed a man in a tactical vest marked “ICE” being assaulted in Waikiki on Saturday night.

This footage ignited discussions online, highlighting the rising trend of violence against ICE officers and spurring debate on whether officers should conceal their identities by wearing masks.

The video captures a confrontation where the man is targeted by a group throwing liquids at him. He is forcibly pulled to the ground and beaten. At one point, he becomes unresponsive as one attacker continues to punch him while others hold him down. He later rises and walks away, appearing to have a nosebleed.

A spokesperson for DHS stated in an email to Fox News Digital that, despite his attire, “this individual is not an ICE officer and is not connected to DHS in any capacity.”

While the identity of the man remains undisclosed, the spokesperson emphasized that “anyone posing as a federal immigration official will face prosecution to the maximum extent allowed by law.”

The statement underscored that “impersonating federal immigration officials risks public safety and damages trust in law enforcement.”

Honolulu police reported to Fox News Digital that a 15-year-old male has been charged with attempted assault related to the incident. The initial charge was for second-degree assault but was later downgraded.

According to the police report, the attack occurred at 8:12 p.m. on Saturday, with the victim identified as 52 years old. The identities of both the suspect and the victim were not disclosed.

A spokeswoman from the police department mentioned that further details couldn’t be provided as the investigation is still active.

The attack coincided with “No Dictator” protests targeting the Trump administration, taking place earlier that day not far from Waikiki in downtown Honolulu. Organizers stated they adjusted the title of the local protest from “No Kings” to “No Dictators” in recognition of Hawaii’s historical figures.

Although the individual involved was not affiliated with ICE, DHS reported a significant surge in violence against its officers. This year alone, the agency noted a staggering 1,300 percent rise in assaults against ICE officers, a 3,200 percent increase in vehicular assaults, and an 8,000 percent surge in death threats against ICE agents.

During the recent protests in Los Angeles, some demonstrators were observed spray-painting messages like “Kill your local ICE agents” on a federal building.