President Donald Trump's Justice Department appeared to assert Monday that a gang member committed an "act of war" against the rule of law.
Trump's former personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, who now serves as U.S. Deputy Attorney General under Pam Bondi, wrote on X that gangs have gone too far.
"Placing a bounty on a federal officer’s head is cowardly and an act of war on the rule of law. This case shows what Take Back America means: reclaiming our neighborhoods from violent thugs and criminal gangs," Blanche said. "We will hunt anyone who targets those who protect our borders, streets, and communities. Rest assured - threaten law enforcement and the full weight of the U.S. government will come for you."
The Trump administration has deployed National Guard soldiers to Chicago and Portland, Oregon; however, a federal judge appointed by Trump stopped the deployment in the latter for now.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed in a Sunday interview with Fox & Friends Weekend that federal agents have been targeted across the United States by having bounties placed on them by "gangs, cartel members and known terrorist organizations," Newsweek quoted.
According to a court filing, gang leader Juan Espinoza Martinez, 37, allegedly offered a $10,000 bounty for the death of the ICE agent who shot a Chicago woman over the weekend, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Espinoza Martinez was arrested on Monday morning, and the court filing was revealed, showing a Snapchat message they say is soliciting the murder of the ICE official.