A New York man was arrested last week for allegedly making posts on the social media platform X threatening to kill U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, including one post threatening to kill an individual’s children.
Following an investigation by ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Matthew White, 43, of Jamestown, N.Y., was arrested on Tuesday, July 1, and was charged with communicating interstate threats.
According to the investigation, an X account believed to be operated by White was posting threats to federal immigration agents and other personnel within the Department of Homeland Security.
Investigators met with White in early June and extracted the content of his phone, finding a number of threatening posts on X allegedly made by White, including:
- April 18, White allegedly posted, “Kill them all, ICE is the new age gestapo, stop them.”
- April 29, White allgedly commented on a video clip of Trump administration “Border Czar” Tom Homan: “Then understand that if your ICE agents don’t show proof of identity and a signed warrant, we will kill them.”
- In late April, in response to a video of an ICE arrest operation inside of a Virginia courthouse, White allegedly posted, “I can’t wait to put a bullet into this guy’s brain, but first his children.”
“The defendant stands accused of making vile threats against officers and agents who risk their lives every day to uphold an oath they swore to protect the public — even those who wish them harm,” said ICE-HSI Buffalo Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan.
“There is no place in our community for such hate against any human beings, including and especially innocent children,” Keegan said. “Let it be known, HSI Buffalo is unflinchingly committed to finding and investigating any individuals who threaten, or who are intent on hurting, members of our law enforcement community.”
White made his initial appearance before a federal judge on July 1, and was granted conditional release.
