Federal authorities are investigating a Washington state man accused of threatening ICE officers online, calling them ‘Nazis’ and vowing to ‘make life harder’ for officers. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that the man, James Adrian Warren, made a post on October 22 targeting the Ferndale, Washington office of ICE, located near the U.S.-Canadian border. In his post, Warren not only referred to ICE as ‘Nazis’ and ‘the Gestapo,’ but also threatened to follow, record, and report on ICE employees to ‘make life harder’ for them in Whatcom County.
Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin expressed deep concern over the threats, stating that comparing ICE officers to Nazi Gestapo has serious consequences. She emphasized that ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers risk their lives daily to apprehend dangerous individuals, including murderers, pedophiles, rapists, terrorists, and gang members. These officers, who are often fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters, strive to make communities safer every day while also wanting to return to their families at night. McLaughlin urged the protection of these individuals from violence and dehumanization.
Warren’s post also included a statement expressing his determination to fight against ICE, stating, ‘I have also never been more ready to fight with everything that I’ve got than I am now.’ He further threatened to remind ICE agents that they are Nazis each day when they return home, encouraging others to do the same. This threat is part of a growing trend of individuals targeting ICE officers, often through online platforms. In recent months, similar incidents have occurred, including an illegal immigrant from Mexico offering $10,000 to kill ICE agents, and three women indicted for livestreaming their pursuit of an ICE agent.
The Department of Homeland Security has acknowledged the alarming increase in assaults on ICE officers, with a reported 1,000% uptick since the Trump administration intensified immigration enforcement. This has created a challenging environment for law enforcement, with officers facing not only the dangers of their work but also threats from individuals within their communities. In Texas, an ICE officer’s spouse received a violent voicemail warning, indicating the broader threat to the families of these law enforcement officers.