Summary
Federal agents arrested a Florida man for allegedly making death threats against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on social media. The man, Joseph Rocco Giancola Jr., is accused of using a fake online profile to post threatening messages aimed at federal agents. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reports a significant increase in threats against ICE agents in recent times.
Key Facts
- Joseph Rocco Giancola Jr., a 72-year-old from Cape Coral, Florida, allegedly made threats against ICE agents.
- He used a fake name on a social media platform called BlueSky to post these threats.
- Some messages allegedly compared ICE agents to Nazis and included threats to "shoot to kill."
- DHS reports an 8,000 percent increase in death threats against ICE agents compared to last year.
- The Trump administration suggests the rise in threats is linked to criticism from Democratic leaders and media.
- ICE emphasizes that making threats against federal agents is a crime.
- Charges against Giancola were pending as of the Friday following his arrest.
- DHS intends to prosecute those who threaten or harm federal law enforcement agents.
