Category: Us immigration and customs enforcement
‘Maga maggots’: Guns, body armor, ammo, Palestinian flag found at home of man accused of threatening to murder ICE agents
Democrats and the liberal media have been working overtime to vilify and dehumanize the men and women of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
This demonization campaign — which opened a new front Sunday with the mob action against Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota — has coincided with unprecedented spikes in assaults and death threats against ICE agents.
‘Alright, you got me.’
The growing left-wing animus is not, however, going unanswered.
Two men were charged in separate cases this week for allegedly threatening to murder ICE agents.
Justin Mesael Novoa, 21, of Columbus, Ohio, was federally charged Thursday with making threatening interstate communications. Novoa apparently has been stewing for months, allegedly issuing threats on X which were brought to the attention of Homeland Security Investigations.
According to the Justice Department, HSI investigators came across a June 2025 post in which Novoa allegedly wrote, “They should blast every ice agent they find.”
Apparently it was far from a one-off articulation of bloodthirst.
In November, Novoa allegedly wrote, “Can’t wait to shoot these p***y ice agents and r*****d maga maggots.”
Photo by Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images
Court documents indicate that Elon Musk’s X Corp. provided HSI with account details, including an email in Novoa’s name as well as his phone number, reported WSYX-TV.
Investigators subsequently found other troubling posts on Novoa’s alleged X account including numerous anti-Semitic posts calling Jewish people “subhuman” and “filthy” as well as posts referencing Adolf Hitler.
When federal agents executed a search warrant at the radical’s residence in December, they found body armor, a pair of military-issue helmets, two rifles, two shotguns, a handgun, and a wealth of ammunition.
A Palestinian flag reportedly also was found in Novoa’s room.
Novoa allegedly told federal agents conducting the search, “Alright, you got me. That was me,” adding, “Damn, so Elon [Musk] does give you access to that,” reported WSYX.
Novoa, whose preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 5, apparently did not have an adult criminal history, and court documents indicate he was not prohibited from possessing firearms.
In a separate case, a man from Harrison County, West Virginia, also was arrested this week for allegedly threatening to murder federal immigration agents and supporters of President Donald Trump. Cody Smith, 20, has been charged with making terroristic threats and was being held at North Central Regional Jail.
West Virginia State Police learned that Smith had posted videos of himself online in which he allegedly said he was going to attack and kill ICE agents and made threats against Trump. Smith also allegedly indicated on social media that he intended to murder Trump supporters and service members willing to “bootlick,” reported WBOY-TV.
Blaze News has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
These alleged terroristic threats also come amid Democratic officials’ increasingly incendiary rhetoric.
Minnesota Mayor Jacob Frey, for instance, characterized ICE as an “occupying force.” In a recent interview, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes accused federal immigration officers of engaging in “thuggish, brutish behavior” and discussed scenarios in which it may be reasonable to shoot masked ICE agents.
Earlier this month, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin noted that “the unprecedented increase in violence against law enforcement is a direct result of sanctuary politicians and the media creating an environment that demonizes our law enforcement and encourages rampant assaults against them.”
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Vance crushes false narrative about ICE ‘arresting’ 5-year-old boy
An image was circulated widely this week showing a visibly upset preschooler wearing an oversized hat and Spider-man backpack standing in the company of federal immigration agents. Evidently loath to investigate the circumstances surrounding the photo and what it actually depicts, Democrats and other radicals rushed to condemn U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D), for instance, suggested ICE had treated the boy like a criminal, while twice-failed presidential candidate Kamala Harris wrote that he “is just a baby. He should be at home with his family, not used as bait by ICE and held in a Texas detention center. I am outraged, and you should be too.”
‘No one thinks that makes any sense.’
New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) went a step further, accusing ICE of “kidnapping 5-year-olds and using them as bait” and suggesting the agency should be defunded.
The liberal media didn’t appear particularly eager to correct Democrats’ false narrative, which was incubated by woke officials with Columbia Heights Public Schools, where the child was reportedly enrolled.
During his visit to Minneapolis on Thursday, Vice President JD Vance gave the press a reality check, noting that anti-ICE propagandists glossed over some critical information about the incident.
“I actually saw this terrible story while I was coming to Minneapolis,” said the vice president.
“And I see this story, and I’m a father of a 5-year-old — actually, a 5-year-old little boy. And I think to myself, ‘Oh my God, this is terrible. How do we arrest a 5-year-old?'”
“Well I do a little bit more follow-up research, and what I find is that the 5-year-old was not arrested; that his dad was an illegal alien; and when they went to arrest his illegal alien father, the father ran,” said Vance.
Photo by Jim Watson – Pool/Getty Images
Vance told the Minneapolis crowd, “So the story is that ICE detained a 5-year-old. Well what are they supposed to do? Are they supposed to let a 5-year-old child freeze to death? Are they not supposed to arrest an illegal alien in the United States of America?”
The Department of Homeland Security indicated that when ICE attempted to arrest the boy’s father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, in the Minneapolis suburb of Columbia Heights on Jan. 20, the illegal alien from Ecuador “fled on foot — abandoning his child.”
Marcos Charles, the assistant director of enforcement and removal operations for ICE, indicated on Friday that after the illegal alien ditched his little boy and was arrested, ICE officers “stayed with the child. They cared for him, took him to get something to eat from a drive-thru restaurant, and spent hours ensuring he was taken care of. Again my officers did that. Not his father.”
Charles noted further that people inside the illegal alien’s apparent residence refused to open the door for the young boy and take him back.
According to DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, the boy’s alleged mother was inside the house and would not let him in even after officers assured her that she wouldn’t be taken into custody.
Marc Prokosch, a lawyer representing the family, indicated during a press conference on Thursday that the boy and his father were reunited and are being kept together at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, a family holding center in Dilley, Texas.
“Parents are asked if they want to be removed with their children, or ICE will place the children with a safe person the parent designates. This is consistent with past administration’s immigration enforcement,” said DHS.
The vice president further suggested that the argument that ICE cannot arrest illegal aliens who have children is unworkable given that’d mean “every single parent is going to be completely given immunity from ever being the subject of law enforcement.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. No one thinks that makes any sense,” said Vance.
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‘Going to get someone killed’: Democratic AG shocks with talk about shooting ICE agents in ‘stand your ground’ Arizona
Republican lawmakers, the Arizona Police Association, and the Trump administration castigated Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) this week over her suggestion that it may be reasonable to shoot masked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Mayes made no secret of her contempt for ICE in her interview with KPNX-TV’s Brahm Resnik, suggesting, for instance, that ICE officers are engaged in “thuggish, brutish behavior” and causing chaos, confusion, and anxiety in Minneapolis.
‘How do you know they are a peace officer?’
“It’s a combustible situation, let’s be clear about that,” said Mayes. “It’s a combustible situation being caused by ICE right now, wearing masks.”
After noting that she was “outraged and sickened” to see ICE agents outside her building and claiming that “real cops don’t wear masks,” the Democrat — who is seeking re-election — made a point of stressing that Arizona is a “stand your ground state.”
“We also have a lot of guns in Arizona,” she said with a smile.
“You know, it’s kind of a recipe for disaster because you have these masked federal officers with very little identification, sometimes no identification, wearing plain clothes and masks, and we have a stand your ground law that says that if you reasonably believe that your life is in danger and you are in your house or your car or on your property, that you can defend yourself with lethal force.”
Resnik pumped the brakes and said, “I want to be careful with that and understand what you are saying because you know how that could be interpreted.”
RELATED: Anti-ICE radical who took credit for the invasion of Minnesota church ARRESTED by feds
(Photo by Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Image
“But it’s the fact,” said Mayes.
While Mayes clarified that you still cannot gun down peace officers in the Grand Canyon State and that she was not giving anyone license to start doing so, she appeared to give would-be killers an excuse, stating, “How do you know they’re a peace officer?”
“If there’s a situation where somebody pulls out their gun because they know Arizona is a stand your ground state, then it becomes ‘did they reasonably know that they were a peace officer?'” said Arizona’s top law enforcement officer.
When Resnik once more pressed her for clarification that she was not “telling folks you have license if you are threatened,” Mayes said, “Well,” and smirked.
“No,” she continued, “but again, if you’re being attacked by someone who is not identified as a peace officer, how do you know?”
Republican Arizona Rep. David Schweikert noted, “Let’s not pretend this was some careful legal seminar.”
“This was the attorney general of Arizona freelancing a scenario where bullets start flying and then shrugging it off as ‘just the law.’ That is reckless on its face,” wrote Schweikert. “If your job is to enforce the law, you do not go on TV and hand out a permission structure for violence, then act surprised when people hear it as a green light. Words matter. Especially when they come from the state’s top lawyer.”
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen (R), who is running for state attorney general, noted, “Mayes should be fully aware of her dangerous rhetoric — and how people will construe, apply, and execute her comments. Mayes’ comments were reckless, dangerous, and disqualifying.”
The Arizona Police Association also condemned Mayes’ remarks, emphasizing that “words from elected officials matter.”
APA Executive Director Joe Clure stated that the Democrat’s framing was “deeply troubling and dangerous” especially as “law enforcement officers at every level including state, local, and federal agencies do not always wear traditional uniforms” — including members of Mayes’ own investigative teams.
“This does not diminish their legal authority or status as law enforcement,” said Clure. “Publicly speculating about how someone might legally justify shooting an ICE agent sends a dangerous and irresponsible message, particularly in an already tense and polarized environment.”
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told the New York Post, “This is [a] direct threat calling for violence against our law enforcement officers — this kind of rhetoric is going to get someone killed.”
Blaze News has reached out the Justice Department for comment.
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Trump threatens Insurrection Act after ambushed ICE agent shoots illegal alien: ‘Put an end to the travesty’
Despite their vilification by Democrat officials and an 8,000% increase in death threats, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents continue in Minneapolis and other dangerous sanctuary jurisdictions to make arrests — 70% of which are reportedly of criminal illegal aliens charged or convicted of a crime in the United States.
When attempting to make one such arrest on Wednesday evening, a federal law enforcement officer was savagely attacked not only by the illegal alien he was pursuing but by a pair of onlookers who apparently felt compelled to frustrate the administration of justice.
‘Minnesota insurrection is a direct result of a FAILED governor and a TERRIBLE mayor encouraging violence.’
The incident resulted in an apparent defensive shooting, which radicals seized upon as yet another excuse to attack police, engage in wanton destruction, and altogether ramp up what the Department of Justice is now referring to as an “insurrection.”
The shooting
The Department of Homeland Security indicated that around 6:50 p.m. local time, federal agents attempted to arrest an illegal alien from Venezuela. The suspect peeled away in his vehicle and fled the scene but ultimately crashed into a parked car.
While the suspect proceeded to take off running, an agent, who has been identified as an ICE officer by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commander Gregory Bovino, caught up with the Venezuelan in the 600 block of 24th Avenue North.
When the ICE officer attempted once again to make the arrest, “the subject began to resist and violently assault the officer,” said the DHS.
Seeing the two men struggling on the ground, two individuals exited a nearby apartment and allegedly began attacking the officer with a shovel and a broom handle, enabling the illegal alien to break free.
The Venezuelan allegedly proceeded to use one of the two improvised hitting implements to strike the outnumbered officer.
RELATED: Blocking ICE with ‘micro-intifada’: Good’s group taught de-arrest, cop-car chaos before her death
Photo by Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Image
“Fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired a defensive shot to defend his life,” said the DHS.
The two alleged attackers and the Venezuelan — who sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the leg — reportedly barricaded themselves in the apartment but were ultimately flushed out. The illegal alien and the officer were taken to the hospital, and the two suspected attackers were placed in custody.
Minneapolis police were ultimately joined at the scene by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the FBI.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that a broom and a snow shovel were found at the scene of the struggle and indicated “at least one person may have assaulted federal law enforcement.”
The Minneapolis reflex
O’Hara indicated that in the wake of the struggle and shooting, a mob assembled and began “engaging in unlawful acts.”
In addition to pelting law enforcement officers with incendiary devices, ice, rocks, and other projectiles, rioters ransacked and vandalized federal vehicles, videos showed.
Mayor Jacob Frey (D) wasted no time in fanning the flames, referring to ICE during a press conference on Wednesday night as an invading force that’s supposedly rounding up American citizens.
“I’ve seen conduct from ICE that is disgusting and is intolerable,” said Frey.
After demonizing ICE and championing anti-ICE protests, Frey suggested that radicals “taking the bait” weren’t helping.
Gov. Tim Walz (D) also responded with mixed signals, characterizing federal agents as villains and recommending resistance but also suggesting that Minnesotans should remain peaceful.
“You’re angry. I’m angry. Angry is not a strong enough word,” Walz said in a video address on Wednesday night. “You are not powerless, you are not helpless, and you are certainly not alone. All across Minnesota people are learning about opportunities, not just to resist, but to help people who are in danger.”
The Justice Department evidently saw the signal through the noise and accused the two Minnesota Democratic Party leaders of incitement.
“ICE operates in thousands of counties without incident. Men and women doing their jobs, protecting us from criminal aliens,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Minnesota insurrection is a direct result of a FAILED governor and a TERRIBLE mayor encouraging violence against law enforcement. It’s disgusting.”
“Walz and Frey,” continued Blanche. “I’m focused on stopping YOU from your terrorism by whatever means necessary. This is not a threat. It’s a promise.”
President Donald Trump threatened on Thursday morning to invoke the Insurrection Act “if the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are only trying to do their job.”
Trump noted that many presidents have utilized the Insurrection Act of 1807 and that it would “quickly put an end to the travesty that is taking place in that once great state.”
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