Texas man threatens to kill ICE agents and faces federal charges
- Robert Wilson King was arrested for threatening ICE agents online, with court hearings following.
- King made further violent threats against Texas officials, expressing a desire for violence against them.
- The incident illustrates rising tensions and threats towards law enforcement in the context of immigration enforcement.
In the United States, particularly Texas, Robert Wilson King, 35, was arrested on April 2, 2023, for making online threats against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. King made these threats on his Facebook account on March 29, expressing his desire to open fire on ICE agents if they entered his neighborhood. Federal investigators were alerted after an informant reported his posts, indicating that King confirmed he was serious about his threats. He also voiced strong criticism of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, advocating for violent actions against her and other government officials. King's posts escalated in severity as he claimed, "If I see ICE agents in my neighborhood, I am opening fire," and referred to ICE as a secret police force lacking legal authority. Additionally, King communicated threats against Texas Governor Greg Abbott and President Donald Trump, deploring Trump as a traitor and demanding death punishment for him. During further investigation, authorities found that King was apparently homeless and living out of his vehicle. On April 3, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas confirmed the charges of transmitting interstate threats against him in federal court. He was held without bond, with a scheduled detention hearing shortly thereafter. In prior months, Noem had publicly denounced similar online threats aimed at law enforcement, reiterating law enforcement’s commitment to prosecuting threats to their safety. The case against King highlights ongoing tensions regarding enforcement of immigration laws in America, particularly during periods of heightened scrutiny of ICE operations. The threat level against such agencies and officials has intensified, raising concerns about the safety and security of law enforcement personnel amid a charged political atmosphere surrounding immigration policies. These incidents reveal an alarming trend of violence and threats directed toward government officials, raising questions about the balance between political expression and direct threats of violence.