HOUSTON, TX – The Department of Homeland Security issued a call to “sanctuary politicians” to dial back their inflammatory rhetoric aimed at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents following a contentious Halloween display in Houston depicting ICE agents being hanged from gallows operated by a mannequin dressed in stereotypical Mexican attire.
A Halloween display in Houston’s Second Ward neighborhood managed to catch the attention of Homeland Security earlier in October, with the agency issuing a statement noting the tasteless nature of the display is symptomatic of the “rhetoric” coming from mainstream media outlets and various politicians who’ve made a habit of vilifying ICE in recent months.
In said Halloween display, two mannequins meant to be effigies of ICE agents dangle from ropes tied around the mannequins’ necks. At the same time, a gallows operator adorned in a poncho and sombrero is staged underneath a Mexican flag. The home where the Halloween display is staged rests in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood, as locals often refer to the Second Ward as the “Segundo Barrio.”
Citing the recent rise of political violence targeting federal agents, Homeland Security’s statement referencing the polarizing Halloween décor drew a direct line from the display to the sort of narrative perpetuated by media and political figures demonizing federal agents tasked with upholding immigration law.
“Effigies of ICE agents dressed in black shirts with red hats were hung from homemade gallows with zip ties in their pockets. The display, surrounded by coffins, barbed wire, and featuring a Mexican flag, was a mock execution ground,” Homeland Security’s statement noted in part.
The agency’s statement continued with, “Following a weekend of domestic terrorists attacking federal law enforcement officers, the Department of Homeland Security is calling for sanctuary politicians and the media to tone down their rhetoric about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement law enforcement. Our officers are facing a more than 1,000% increase in assaults against them, and their families are being doxxed and threatened online.”
The controversy surrounding the Houston display was one of several concerning developments cited by the Department of Homeland Security in its issued statement, also mentioning the recent direct threats received by family members of ICE agents.
One such incident highlighted by the agency involved a Massachusetts resident named Robert Buckley who messaged the wife of an ICE agent on Facebook, threatening the woman’s family with, “retribution will come your way eventually.” A second incident mentioned by Homeland Security involved the wife of an agent receiving a threatening phone call where the person reportedly said, “Did you hear what happened to the Nazis after World War II? Because it’s what’s going to happen to your family.”
Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated the seemingly now common trend of framing ICE agents as literal Nazis, saying the repeated use of such characterizations is contributing to the normalization of violence directed at agents’ families.
“These types of threats against our brave ICE law enforcement officers and their families are disgusting,” McLaughlin stated, adding, “These officers risk their lives every day to arrest murderers, pedophiles, rapists, terrorists, and gang members from our communities. Comparing ICE day in and day out to the Nazi Gestapo, the Secret Police, and slave patrols has consequences.”
A Halloween display in Houston’s Second Ward neighborhood managed to catch the attention of Homeland Security earlier in October, with the agency issuing a statement noting the tasteless nature of the display is symptomatic of the “rhetoric” coming from mainstream media outlets and various politicians who’ve made a habit of vilifying ICE in recent months.
In said Halloween display, two mannequins meant to be effigies of ICE agents dangle from ropes tied around the mannequins’ necks. At the same time, a gallows operator adorned in a poncho and sombrero is staged underneath a Mexican flag. The home where the Halloween display is staged rests in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood, as locals often refer to the Second Ward as the “Segundo Barrio.”
Citing the recent rise of political violence targeting federal agents, Homeland Security’s statement referencing the polarizing Halloween décor drew a direct line from the display to the sort of narrative perpetuated by media and political figures demonizing federal agents tasked with upholding immigration law.
“Effigies of ICE agents dressed in black shirts with red hats were hung from homemade gallows with zip ties in their pockets. The display, surrounded by coffins, barbed wire, and featuring a Mexican flag, was a mock execution ground,” Homeland Security’s statement noted in part.
The agency’s statement continued with, “Following a weekend of domestic terrorists attacking federal law enforcement officers, the Department of Homeland Security is calling for sanctuary politicians and the media to tone down their rhetoric about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement law enforcement. Our officers are facing a more than 1,000% increase in assaults against them, and their families are being doxxed and threatened online.”
The controversy surrounding the Houston display was one of several concerning developments cited by the Department of Homeland Security in its issued statement, also mentioning the recent direct threats received by family members of ICE agents.
One such incident highlighted by the agency involved a Massachusetts resident named Robert Buckley who messaged the wife of an ICE agent on Facebook, threatening the woman’s family with, “retribution will come your way eventually.” A second incident mentioned by Homeland Security involved the wife of an agent receiving a threatening phone call where the person reportedly said, “Did you hear what happened to the Nazis after World War II? Because it’s what’s going to happen to your family.”
Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated the seemingly now common trend of framing ICE agents as literal Nazis, saying the repeated use of such characterizations is contributing to the normalization of violence directed at agents’ families.
“These types of threats against our brave ICE law enforcement officers and their families are disgusting,” McLaughlin stated, adding, “These officers risk their lives every day to arrest murderers, pedophiles, rapists, terrorists, and gang members from our communities. Comparing ICE day in and day out to the Nazi Gestapo, the Secret Police, and slave patrols has consequences.”
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Comments
2025-10-13T16:54-0400 | Comment by: Jan
This is despicable. My kids would NEVER stop at that house for candy or anything else.
2025-10-13T18:25-0400 | Comment by: Paul
If I was their neighbor, I'd put up a mock border wall showing illegal border crossers hanging themselves trying to scale the wall.
2025-10-13T20:08-0400 | Comment by: James
Oh so this is not hate speech and actions?! Try hanging black dummys! It would be all over the news!!!
2025-10-13T20:27-0400 | Comment by: Jon
The people that made this mockery of our Federal Agents should be detained and interrogated on suspicion of making terrorist threats. Perhaps this would "jerk a knot in their tail(s)".
2025-10-13T20:27-0400 | Comment by: Jon
The people that made this mockery of our Federal Agents should be detained and interrogated on suspicion of making terrorist threats. Perhaps this would "jerk a knot in their tail(s)".