Twin brothers from New Jersey were arrested on charges of threatening to kill Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
DHS announced Tuesday afternoon that U.S. citizens Emilio Roman-Flores and Ricardo Roman-Flores were taken into custody in Absecon, New Jersey, by DHS and the Absecon Police Department’s SWAT team earlier in the day for making threats online against a Trump administration official and federal law enforcement.
“Let this be a warning to anyone who dares threaten or attack our brave law enforcement officers,” acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said in a statement. “We will find you, we will arrest you, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. We are NOT afraid of you.”
Federal and local police executed a search and arrest warrant for the Roman-Flores brothers following their call on social media to “shoot ICE on sight,” as well as McLaughlin.
Emilio Roman-Flores is being charged with unlawful possession of an assault weapon, possession of prohibited weapons, conspiracy, terroristic threats, criminal coercion, threats, and cyber harassment.
Ricardo Roman-Flores will be charged with conspiracy and terroristic threats.
🚨NEW — DHS says a pair of twins in Absecon, New Jersey, threatened to kill Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin and called to “shoot ICE on sight” on social media.
— Anna Giaritelli (@Anna_Giaritelli) December 9, 2025
This morning, DHS and the Absecon Police Department SWAT team executed a search… pic.twitter.com/TapO2XDTGL
NEW DHS WEBSITE WILL LIST ‘WORST OF THE WORST’ CRIMINAL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ARRESTS
Lyons blamed the “extreme rhetoric” coming from the media, Democratic politicians, and activists for the increase in threats against federal police.
Death threats made against ICE employees are up 8,000%, according to the DHS, though the time frame of the threat increase was not specified.
