Federal agents arrested a Florida man Thursday, after he allegedly threatened to kill U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers multiple times on social media.
Joseph Rocco Giancola Jr., a 72-year-old U.S. citizen, is accused of comparing agents to Nazis, rabid dogs, and thugs under a fake profile on social media.
Why It Matters
The arrest comes after Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials said ICE agents had seen an 8,000 percent increase in death threats compared to the same period last year. The department has seen huge backlash over its enactment of tougher immigration policies under President Donald Trump.
What To Know
ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) said Giancola, from Cape Coral, used a pseudonym on the social media platform BlueSky to post his threats against federal agents.
Among the messages he allegedly posted as “Cain Delon” were “Shoot the ICE Nazis down like the rabid dogs they are”, “they come near me, and I shoot to kill. Be warned”, and “Get out your guns and shoot them down”.
Some of the posts referenced were shared back in July, with more recent activity on the account being reposts of content from other users which included comparing ICE to the gestapo, and a comparison of Border Patrol El Centro chief Greg Bovino to Hitler.
While ICE said that threatening and assaulting federal officers is a crime, the agency did not provide further details on the charges Giancola faced or the evidence linking him to the posts. Newsweek has asked DHS for further comment.
The alleged threats to kill ICE agents from the Florida man are part of what DHS says is a wider movement of threatening messages and actions aimed toward federal agents carrying out immigration enforcement.
The Trump administration insists that it is Democratic leader of sanctuary states and cities, as well as the media, which is responsible for the apparent rise in threats and violence towards agents.
Those protesting ICE’s actions, including several Democrats, say that they are fighting back against increasingly violent tactics by federal agents against those exercising their First Amendment rights.
What People Are Saying
HSI Tampa acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Cochran, in a press release: “While the First Amendment protects free speech, it does not extend to threats of violence or actions that incite harm. Freedom of speech carries a responsibility to exercise it in a manner that respects the safety and rights of others.”
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, in a press release: “From bounties placed on their heads for their murders, threats to their families, stalking, and doxxing online, our officers are experiencing an unprecedented level of violence and threats against them and their families. Threaten violence or death to our law enforcement? You’ll end up behind bars like this guy.”
What’s Next
Charges appeared to be pending for Giancola Friday morning. DHS has made it clear it will seek to prosecute those who threaten or assault agents.