A chilling plot to target U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials has been uncovered in Oregon, prompting a swift response from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Eighteen-year-old Rayden Coleman was arrested following a traffic stop, revealing a disturbing intent to inflict violence.
Police discovered Coleman possessed knives and materials for constructing Molotov cocktails. A manifesto allegedly authored by Coleman detailed a plan to attack an ICE office in Portland, utilizing both Molotov cocktails and a firearm.
Investigators were further alerted by Coleman’s own admissions, including his plan to acquire an AR-15 rifle the following day and shockingly, statements referencing the beheading of ICE agents. He now faces multiple state charges, including manufacturing destructive devices and conspiracy to commit assault.
The DHS is actively investigating the case, working alongside ICE Homeland Security Investigations. This incident arrives amidst a backdrop of escalating threats against law enforcement officials, and a concerning surge in violent rhetoric.
Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin expressed deep concern, stating that assaults and attempted killings of officers are becoming increasingly common. She emphasized the gravity of the situation, highlighting the danger faced by those sworn to uphold the law.
The DHS directly linked the escalating hostility towards ICE to inflammatory language used by some Democratic politicians. Comparisons of ICE to the Nazi Gestapo and other oppressive regimes, officials argue, have tangible and dangerous consequences.
These officials are not abstract figures, but mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters simply striving to keep communities safe. The dehumanization and incitement of violence against them, the DHS contends, must cease immediately.
The timing of this incident is particularly fraught, occurring just after a House hearing where several Democrats leveled harsh criticism at ICE, drawing parallels to historical atrocities. This rhetoric, according to the DHS, fuels the dangerous climate facing ICE personnel.
The threats against ICE officers have seen a staggering increase – over 1,300% rise in assaults and an 8,000% surge in death threats. This escalating violence coincides with a looming government shutdown, as Democrats demand ICE reforms as a condition for funding the DHS.
The possibility of a shutdown raises serious concerns about national security, with some officials suggesting Democrats are willing to weaponize the government to achieve their political goals. The safety of the nation, they argue, is being jeopardized.
The situation has prompted a stark warning that the extreme political climate is potentially blinding some to the critical role of homeland security. Protecting the country from terrorists, murderers, and other threats is paramount, and should not be compromised by political maneuvering.
Coleman is currently held in Columbia County jail on a $400,000 bail, as the investigation continues to unfold and the nation grapples with the implications of this disturbing case.
