The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that John Paul Cupp is facing federal criminal charges for making threats against federal law enforcement officers. According to DHS, Cupp posted violent rhetoric online, including videos in which he threatened to kill Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and made graphic threats against their families.
Cupp reportedly posted content on Instagram, making statements such as, “I’ll have your wife looking at your head while I f**k her,” and “his wife will love looking at his f***ing head when she gets it in the mail.” He also referred to himself as Osama bin Laden in these posts.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, “This man is now facing federal charges for making violent threats against ICE law enforcement and their families. Our ICE law enforcement officers face an 8,000% increase in death threats against them while they risk their lives every single day to remove the worst of the worst including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, terrorists, and gang members. From bounties placed on their heads for their murders, threats to their families, stalking, and doxxing online, our officers are experiencing an unprecedented level of violence and threats against them and their families. Secretary Noem has been clear: if you threaten or lay a hand on law enforcement, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
DHS reported that ICE law enforcement officers have seen a significant rise in death threats over recent years. The department urges the public to report any crimes or suspicious activity by contacting the ICE tip line or visiting its website.
