Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs | https://www.dhs.gov/
On September 26, Elias Cepeda was arrested outside the ICE Broadview facility in Chicago. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Cepeda was found with a loaded firearm and several magazines of ammunition. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) confiscated the weapon as part of Operation Midway Blitz.
Cepeda is identified as a journalist and college professor at the University of Illinois, according to his LinkedIn profile. DHS alleges that he has suspected ties to Antifa and has previously posted messages on social media expressing support for violence against federal law enforcement.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, “Elias Cepeda has suspected ties to the domestic terrorist organization ANTIFA and has a history of glorifying violence against—and the killing of—our brave law enforcement. Violent individuals like Cepeda are putting the public and our law enforcement’s lives in danger. Just two days after the horrific attack on ICE in Dallas, Cepeda brought a loaded gun and multiple magazines to our ICE Broadview facility. Thank God law enforcement intervened and arrested Cepeda before he could have potentially shot or killed anyone. Let this serve as a stark warning to any individual who wishes to do our law enforcement harm or any ANTIFA terrorist: President Trump and Secretary Noem will fight every day to protect and defend the men and women who keep our country safe from violent extremists and criminal illegal aliens alike.”
Authorities noted that Cepeda's social media accounts contained posts referring to ICE officers as Nazis, sharing content associated with Antifa, and calling for violence against federal officials.
