Two New Jersey men have been arrested after making terroristic threats to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
Emilio Roman-Flores and Ricardo Antonio Roman-Flores, who are twins from Abescon, are accused of threatening to shoot ICE officers “on sight” in addition to threatening to hang McLaughlin, according to a press release emailed to Newsweek by DHS on Tuesday.
They are both American citizens, the release said.
DHS responded to Newsweek‘s request for further comment with a press release including a statement from Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, who said that the brothers’ arrests were a warning to anyone who “dares to threaten or attack” law enforcement.
Why It Matters
McLaughlin has become one of the key faces of the Department of Homeland Security under President Donald Trump, alongside Secretary Kristi Noem. As a leading spokesperson, she has repeatedly raised concerns about a rise in attacks on and threats towards federal agents, while also putting her name alongside statements targeting alleged illegal immigrants and policies of the previous administration, as well as current Democratic Party leaders in sanctuary cities and states.
What To Know
Emilio Roman-Flores is being charged with unlawful possession of an assault weapon, possession of prohibited weapons, conspiracy, terroristic threats, criminal coercion, threats, and cyber harassment, while his twin, Ricardo Antonio Roman-Flores, is charged with conspiracy, terroristic threats, the release said.
The pair is being held in a New Jersey jail and faces federal charges, according to the release.
It was reported that the pair had posted on social media that they wanted to torture and kill McLaughlin in a medieval fashion, with one brother allegedly posting on X that the Second Amendment existed for such a moment. The pair had also allegedly called for ICE to be shot on sight.
“We Americans should find you, tar you, feather you, and hang you as we did to anyone serving tyrants before the Revolutionary War,” one post allegedly said, per Fox News.
Federal agents have seen an uptick in attacks in recent months, DHS has said, as they increased immigration enforcement across the country at the direction of President Donald Trump. Protests have broken out in several communities, with confrontations between residents and agents frequently documented.
ICE agents have also been accused of using aggressive tactics against citizens and alleged illegal immigrants, leaving some with serious injuries.
What People Are Saying
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said in the press release on Tuesday: “Let this be a warning to anyone who dares threaten or attack our brave law enforcement officers. We will find you, we will arrest you, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. We are NOT afraid of you.
“The extreme rhetoric of the news media, sanctuary politicians, and activists is leading directly to our law enforcement officers facing an 8,000% increase in death threats against them. If you threaten our law enforcement or DHS officials, we will hunt you down and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
What Happens Next
Further details on the case are pending, while DHS has made it clear it will seek to prosecute all of those who threaten agents and staff.
Update 12/9/25, 1:31 p.m. ET: This article was updated with a response from the Department of Homeland Security.
