Leakers of ICE Ops Identified, Fired!

Federal employees have recently compromised a series of deportation raids by leaking confidential information to the public, prompting widespread concern about the safety of law enforcement personnel. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed on Monday that several individuals responsible for the leaks have been identified and will be terminated, with further investigations ongoing. “We’ve already located a few leakers,” Noem stated in an interview, adding, “We’re still receiving more information, and they will face repercussions.”

Noem stressed the severity of the situation, warning that leaks of sensitive operations jeopardize the lives of law enforcement officers. “When information is leaked to the press with the intent to disrupt operations, it puts law enforcement lives in danger. It risks the safety of the agents involved,” she reminded the public. She explained that her team has been actively investigating all individuals with access to the leaked information, employing various tactics, including polygraph tests and a thorough review of emails and other electronic communications. “It’s shocking how some individuals within our bureaucracy, motivated by their own agendas, are willing to betray their colleagues to protect themselves,” Noem continued. “Rest assured, I am doing everything I can to root out these leakers and ensure that our law enforcement officers can do their jobs safely.”

The leaks began last month, just as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was preparing for a series of deportation operations that were initially scheduled the day after President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. The first leak, which appeared in The Wall Street Journal, forced ICE to delay a major operation planned for Chicago. Subsequently, former ICE chief and border czar Tom Homan led deportation operations in Chicago the following week.

One of the most damaging leaks involved an operation targeting the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TDA) in Aurora, Colorado, a suburb of Denver. The gang received advance warning of the raid, resulting in only one TDA member being apprehended instead of the full group of over 100 targets. Another leaked raid in Los Angeles, which was aimed at members of the infamous Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang, also faced disruption. At the time, both Homan and Noem speculated that the leaks could have originated from within the FBI, with Noem referring to the agency as “so corrupt.” Homan, in turn, acknowledged that the leaked information seemed to be coming from FBI sources, stating, “Some of the information we’re receiving tends to point toward the FBI.”

In response to the leaks, Noem and Homan have emphasized that criminal prosecution could be necessary, despite their decision to fire the individuals responsible. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has already launched a criminal investigation. Homan reported that the DOJ has pledged to pursue criminal charges, stating, “This person will not only lose their job and pension, but they will go to jail.” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi added, “If you leaked it, we will find out who you are, and we will come after you,” vowing to hold the perpetrators accountable.

Lora Ries, Director of the Border Security and Immigration Center at The Heritage Foundation, weighed in on the situation, stressing the legal ramifications of such leaks. In an interview with The Washington Stand, Ries called for the prosecution of those responsible, stating, “Leaking details of ICE raids obstructs a federal proceeding and violates 18 U.S.C. sections 2 and 1505. It’s also an obstruction of justice under 18 U.S.C. sec. 1512(c)(2) and (k).” Ries went on to explain that leakers often perceive their actions as low-risk, high-reward due to a lack of previous consequences. “To stop this behavior, we need to make very public examples of those involved,” she said. “Simply firing them won’t suffice, as left-wing organizations will likely rehire them.”

Ries further argued that the leakers should face serious consequences, including being “publicly arrested, prosecuted, fired, having their security clearances revoked, losing their federal retirement benefits, and being barred from future government employment, grants, and contracts.” This strong stance reflects growing frustration with the persistent issue of leaks within government agencies and the need for accountability to safeguard national security efforts.