New Jersey twins charged in threats to kill DHS official, ‘shoot ICE on sight’

Immigration

New Jersey twins charged in threats to kill DHS official, ‘shoot ICE on sight’

New Jersey suspects allegedly posted medieval torture threats against DHS assistant secretary on social media

Charles Creitz Fox News

Published

December 9, 2025 11:05am EST

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It 'can't be overstated' how much the Biden admin put US 'in danger': Tricia McLaughlin

DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin comments on homeland security, the vetting process for migrants and more on ‘America Reports.'

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EXCLUSIVE: Two New Jersey brothers were arrested on charges tied to terroristic threats against DHS chief Kristi Noem’s top public-facing deputy, including alleged vows to "shoot ICE agents on sight." One brother also faces unlawful weapons-possession charges.

The harrowing allegations come amid a reported 8,000% increase in death threats against Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel. The alleged targeting of Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin presented a new danger for those working to realize President Donald Trump’s mass deportation of the "worst of the worst" illegal immigrant criminals.

Ricardo Antonio Roman-Flores and Emilio Roman-Flores, twins from Absecon, New Jersey, next to Atlantic City; were arrested after allegedly posting to X that they wanted to torture and kill McLaughlin in a medieval fashion.

"[The Second] Amendment is in place for moments like this. Shoot ICE on sight," one of the brothers tweeted in a partially-redacted response to a McLaughlin message:

MEXICAN GANGS OFFERING UP TO $50K BOUNTIES FOR ICE AGENT ASSASSINATIONS IN US, DHS SAYS

ICE police make arrest split with Tricia McLaughlin

ICE police make an arrest, left; DHS Asst. Sec. Tricia McLaughlin, right (Christopher Dilts/Getty Images; 'Hannity'/Fox News)

"We Americans should find you, tar you, feather you, and hang you as we did to anyone serving tyrants before the Revolutionary War."

A second partially-redacted tweet, reportedly from the other brother, read: "Shoot ICE on sight."

McLaughlin has been front-and-center on broadcast media throughout DHS’ immigration enforcement missions.

DHS BRASS SLAM VIRGINIA BEACH PRINCIPAL ACCUSED IN ‘CHILLING’ PLOT TO LURE, AMBUSH ICE AGENTS

Seen as Noem’s top representative in the press, McLaughlin has not been shy to defend her agency, recently lambasting those like the Absecon brothers who allegedly threaten ICE agents as "despicable" and repeating that attacks on federal officers are a direct result of violent rhetoric from Democrats and the political left.

She has also criticized far-left city leaders like Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who has stood up against DHS operations.

ICE Director Todd Lyons told Fox News Digital the swift arrests — within three days of the alleged threats — serve as a warning:

ICE PROTESTER WHO IDENTIFIED AS 'BIN LADEN' FACES CHARGES OVER ALLEGED SEXUALLY EXPLICIT THREATS TO AGENTS

Emilio Roman-Flores, left; Ricardo Antonio Roman-Flores, inset. (DHS)

"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."

Lyons added, as McLaughlin previously said, that "extreme rhetoric" from the press, sanctuary-city politicians and left-wing activists are the direct precursor to these situations.

"If you threaten our law enforcement or DHS officials, we will hunt you down, and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

The two suspects are American citizens. Emilio was charged with unlawful possession of an assault weapon, possession of prohibited weapons, conspiracy, terroristic threats, criminal coercion, and cyber harassment.

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His brother, Ricardo, was charged with one count of conspiracy-terroristic threats.

DHS credited the Absecon Police Department and its SWAT team for successfully taking the brothers into custody after they executed a search-and-arrest warrant in the Atlantic County community.

Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital.

He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant.

Charles covers media, politics and culture for Fox News Digital.

Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.

New Jersey twins charged in threats to kill DHS official, ‘shoot ICE on sight’