Ohio Man Arrested for Threatening ICE Officials

An Ohio man, Anthony Kelly from Cincinnati, has been arrested on allegations of making terroristic threats against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and federal officials, as announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Saturday.

According to Tricia McLaughlin, who serves as the assistant secretary for public relations at DHS, Kelly faces federal charges for supposedly threatening to lure, assault, and kill U.S. officials. McLaughlin expressed gratitude for law enforcement’s efforts in a post on X.

Surge in Attacks on ICE Officials

The arrest comes in light of alarming statistics released by DHS, indicating an 830% increase in attacks on ICE agents since January. These threats include doxing, where personal information is shared publicly, leading to physical assaults on employees of the agency.

In her post, McLaughlin shared multiple images from social media accounts linked to Kelly, which included threats to shoot ICE agents. Additionally, there were discussions around purchasing firearms.

One of the posts stated, “You come here for me and you’re being shot… I won’t give you your name or who you are.” This kind of aggressive rhetoric has been a growing concern for authorities.

Context of Rising Violence

Comments responding to various posts, including ones related to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, have referenced plans to acquire guns, further underlining the serious nature of the threats being made. When Kelly’s home was searched, authorities reportedly discovered a firearm and ammunition.

Concerns regarding doxing of ICE agents persist, especially with the significant rise in reported attacks. McLaughlin mentioned that these incidents create unprecedented risk levels for those working in immigration enforcement.

DHS has taken steps to combat this issue, seeking the Department of Justice’s assistance in prosecuting individuals who threaten ICE agents, whether through online postings or other means. McLaughlin reiterated, “We will prosecute dox ICE agents to the fullest extent of the law. We won’t allow this behavior in America.”

DHS and ICE have not responded to requests for further comment about the situation.