A Black state lawmaker in Connecticut has received hate-filled threats since being falsely accused of "doxxing" the sensitive information of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, reported The New York Times on Tuesday.
"The lawmaker, Corey P. Paris, of Stamford, said that he had received threats against his life and his relatives. A spokesman with the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection said the State Police were investigating the incident," reported Ana Ley.
The issues started, per the report, when "In a message posted on Instagram, Mr. Paris, a Democrat, told followers on Friday that he had learned of immigration enforcement efforts in his district and wanted to warn residents to 'remain vigilant.'"
Soon after that, the account of far-right activist Chaya Raichik, known as LibsOfTikTok, "tagged ICE’s official account, and urged the agency to 'charge him' ... ICE officials republished the post the next day and tagged the Justice Department’s account."
She further claimed Paris was “doxxing ICE’s live location” and “helping illegals evade arrest and impeding ICE,” even though he didn't do either of those things.
Paris says he has been inundated with threats, homophobic slurs, and people claiming to know where his relatives live.
Simply stating that ICE agents are active in your district is not illegal, but other lawmakers who have done the same have faced similar threats. Arizona state Sen. Analise Ortiz, who made a similar post, was threatened, faced calls for her expulsion, and a prosecutor from another county offered to extralegally serve as a special counsel for the legislature to criminally investigate her.
"Ms. Ortiz and Mr. Paris both said they wanted to help residents avoid potentially dangerous encounters with ICE," noted the report. "Some immigrants have died while fleeing officials, and the agency has arrested U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents by mistake."