Twins Arrested on Charges of Threatening to Torture and Kill DHS Official, ‘Shoot ICE on Sight’

Two brothers from Absecon, New Jersey, were arrested Tuesday on charges related to threats made against a senior Department of Homeland Security official, including alleged calls to “shoot ICE agents on sight.”

The FBI and local law enforcement took the pair into custody three days after the threats were posted online, as reported by Fox News.

Ricardo Antonio Roman-Flores and Emilio Roman-Flores are accused of posting violent threats on X targeting Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, DHS’ top public-facing deputy.

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.

This morning, DHS and the Absecon Police Department SWAT team executed a search… pic.twitter.com/TapO2XDTGL

— Anna Giaritelli (@Anna_Giaritelli) December 9, 2025

The posts allegedly included threats describing medieval torture and executions. One partially redacted post read, “[The Second] Amendment is in place for moments like this. Shoot ICE on sight.”

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

Another message reportedly added, “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 post, attributed to the other brother, also read, “Shoot ICE on sight.”

The threats come at a time when reported threats against Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel have increased by what DHS officials described as 8,000%.

McLaughlin has been the leading public representative for DHS throughout ongoing immigration enforcement operations and has frequently addressed attacks on federal officers.

In recent public remarks, McLaughlin condemned threats like those allegedly made by the Roman-Flores brothers.

She has described individuals who target ICE personnel as “despicable” and said attacks on DHS officers are tied to “violent rhetoric” coming from political figures and activists on the left.

THREAT RESPONSE: Two New Jersey men are charged with threatening to t*rt*re and m*rd*r @TriciaOhio and to attack @ICEgov agents. @DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/m8DC3EmhtL

— Harold Hutchison (@HaroldHutchison) December 9, 2025

She has also criticized city officials, including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who have opposed DHS operations.

ICE Director Todd Lyons told Fox News Digital that the rapid arrests should serve as a deterrent. “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 said. He added that, as McLaughlin has stated, “extreme rhetoric” from media and political leaders is directly contributing to threats against DHS personnel.

“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.”

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

Ricardo Roman-Flores was charged with one count of conspiracy-terroristic threats.

DHS credited the Absecon Police Department and its SWAT team for executing the search and arrest warrant in Atlantic County and successfully taking the brothers into custody.

The investigation remains ongoing.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.