A set of twins from New Jersey have been arrested over terroristic threats made against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s top assistant, the agency said in a press release.
Ricardo Antonio Roman-Flores and Emilio Roman-Flores, of Absecon, are each facing a count of conspiracy-terroristic threats, according to DHS. Emilio is additionally facing charges of unlawful possession of an assault weapon, possession of prohibited weapons, criminal coercion, threats, and cyber harassment.
The brothers, both 26 years old, allegedly said DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin should he hanged in a social media post. They also tried to rally their followers to “shoot ICE on sight,” the DHS said.
“We Americans should find you, tar you, feather you, and hang you as we did to anyone serving tyrants before the Revolutionary War,” one post about McLaughlin read, per Fox News.
Another said: “[The Second] Amendment is in place for moments like this. Shoot ICE on sight.”
It was not clear which brother wrote what post. The DHS also noted that they are both American citizens.
On Tuesday, police recovered a pair of guns from Emilio — including an assault rifle, along with several boxes of ammunition — while executing a search warrant.
“Let this be a warning to anyone who dares threaten or attack our brave law enforcement officers,” Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said in a statement.
“We will find you, we will arrest you, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law,” he continued. “We are NOT afraid of you.”
The twins were being held on Wednesday at a jail in Absecon.