The Department of Homeland Security clarified that a man recently seen on video, clad in attire resembling a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) uniform and being assaulted on a street in Honolulu, has no ties to the agency.
The viral footage captured the individual wearing a tactical vest emblazoned with “ICE” as he was subjected to physical attacks in the Waikiki area of Honolulu on a Saturday night.
The incident sparked widespread social media reaction, intensifying existing concerns about the safety of ICE agents and ongoing discussions about whether officers should use masks to safeguard their identities.
In the video, the man confronts a small gathering that douses him with liquid. He is then seized by three people, dragged to the ground, and assaulted with punches and kicks. As the attack continues, he seems to lose consciousness while one assailant repeatedly strikes his face and two others restrain him. Eventually, he manages to get up, stumbling away with what appears to be a bloody nose.
A DHS representative communicated to Fox News Digital via email, affirming that despite the appearance of the vest, “this individual is NOT an ICE agent and has no association with the DHS whatsoever.”
While the spokesperson did not disclose the man’s real identity, they stressed that “anyone found impersonating a federal immigration officer will face prosecution to the fullest extent permitted by law.”
They added that “impersonating a federal immigration officer endangers public safety and erodes trust in law enforcement.”
The Honolulu Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital that a 15-year-old male is being charged with attempted assault in connection with the incident. The department shared a report that stated the suspect was originally arrested for second-degree assault, but that his charges were reduced to attempted assault.
The report lists the time of assault at 8:12 p.m. on Saturday. The age of the victim listed on the report is 52. Neither the suspect’s nor the victim’s identities are listed.
A spokesperson for the department noted they were not able to offer any additional information “as this investigation is active and ongoing.”
The attack occurred the same day a “No Dictators” protest opposing the Trump administration took place. The protest, held in conjunction with “No Kings” demonstrations across the continental US, occurred several miles from Waikiki in downtown Honolulu earlier that morning.
Local outlet Big Island Now reported that organizers changed the name of the Honolulu No Kings protest to No Dictators “out of respect for Hawaiʻi’s history of aliʻi (chiefs and kings).”
Though the individual in this instance was not an ICE agent, DHS has reported a dramatic rise in assaults on its officers. Earlier this year, DHS reported a 1,300 percent increase in assaults against ICE officers and a 3,200 percent increase in vehicular attacks. The agency also said ICE officers have experienced an 8,000% increase in death threats.
During a No Kings protest in Los Angeles over the weekend, a protester was seen spray-painting a federal building with the message, “Kill your local ICE agent,” along with two targets.
