Federal officials say a data breach that published the identities of roughly 4,500 ICE and Border Patrol employees has put agents and their families at risk, prompting a criminal investigation and a forceful response from the Department of Homeland Security.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
An unidentified individual described as a “whistleblower” has leaked the personal information of thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol employees, an incident the Department of Homeland Security says endangers federal officers and could constitute thousands of felony violations.
The breach was first reported by The Independent, which said the identities of approximately 4,500 federal employees— including about 2,000 ICE agents—were published online on a site known as The ICE List, according to a report released Wednesday. The disclosure is described as the largest leak of its kind in the agency’s history.
The Daily Beast separately reported that the release of the data followed last week’s fatal self-defense shooting of Renee Good, a left-wing activist, by an ICE agent. According to that report, the leak was framed by its organizer as a response to the shooting.
Dominick Skinner, identified by the Daily Beast as the founder of The ICE List, told the outlet the incident reflected internal dissent. “It is a sign that people aren’t happy within the U.S. government, clearly. The shooting (of Good) was the last straw for many people,” Skinner said in an interview cited by the publication. He added, “ICE and CBP are in clear need of reform, and I believe working for either is a bad move on a moral level.”
The Department of Homeland Security strongly rejected those claims and warned of serious legal consequences. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, whose name also appeared on the leaked list, told NewsNation in a statement that the incident could amount to “4,500 felonies.”
“The disgusting doxxing of our officers put their lives and their families in serious danger,” McLaughlin said. “Our law enforcement officers are on the frontlines arresting terrorists, gang members, murderers, ped*philes, and rapists.”
McLaughlin said threats have already been directed at family members of affected officers and pledged that those responsible would be held accountable. “Their families are being threatened. We will not back down. Anyone who doxxes our officers will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” she said.
The ICE List describes itself as a “journalistic project” intended to publish information that would “hold ICE members legally accountable.” According to The Independent, the website operates out of the Netherlands, placing it outside direct U.S. jurisdiction.
DHS officials said the investigation into the source of the leak remains ongoing, as federal authorities assess potential criminal charges and work to mitigate threats to affected personnel.
Original article
Comments