The Division of Homeland Safety stated {that a} man just lately filmed wearing what resembles a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement uniform being overwhelmed subsequent to a Honolulu road shouldn’t be affiliated with the company in any means.
A latest viral video confirmed a person sporting a tactical vest with the phrase “ICE” being punched and kicked on a road in Honolulu’s Waikiki neighborhood Saturday evening.
The video brought on an uproar on social media amid heightened issues about rising assaults on ICE brokers and debate over whether or not officers ought to put on masks to guard their identities.
The video exhibits the person confronting a small group that throws liquid at him. Three people seize him, pull him to the bottom and start punching and kicking him. He ultimately goes limp as one particular person continues to pound his face whereas two others maintain him. The person later will get up and stumbles away, showing to have a bloody nostril.
A DHS spokesperson advised Fox Information Digital in an emailed assertion that regardless of the vest, “this particular person is NOT an ICE agent and isn’t linked to DHS in any means.”
The spokesperson didn’t supply any particulars on the true identification of the person however emphasised that “anybody caught impersonating a federal immigration agent will probably be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the legislation.”
They added that “impersonating a federal immigration officer endangers public security and erodes belief in legislation enforcement.”
The Honolulu Police Division confirmed to Fox Information Digital {that a} 15-year-old male is being charged with tried assault in reference to the incident. The division shared a report that said the suspect was initially arrested for second-degree assault, however that his prices have been diminished to tried assault.
The report lists the time of assault at 8:12 p.m. on Saturday. The age of the sufferer listed on the report is 52. Neither the suspect’s nor the sufferer’s identities are listed.
A spokesperson for the division famous they weren’t in a position to supply any further info “as this investigation is energetic and ongoing.”
The assault occurred the identical day a “No Dictators” protest opposing the Trump administration happened. The protest, held together with “No Kings” demonstrations throughout the continental US, occurred a number of miles from Waikiki in downtown Honolulu earlier that morning.
Native outlet Huge Island Now reported that organizers modified the title of the Honolulu No Kings protest to No Dictators “out of respect for Hawaiʻi’s historical past of aliʻi (chiefs and kings).”
Although the person on this occasion was not an ICE agent, DHS has reported a dramatic rise in assaults on its officers. Earlier this 12 months, DHS reported a 1,300 p.c enhance in assaults towards ICE officers and a 3,200 p.c enhance in vehicular assaults. The company additionally stated ICE officers have skilled an 8,000% enhance in dying threats.
Throughout a No Kings protest in Los Angeles over the weekend, a protester was seen spray-painting a federal constructing with the message, “Kill your native ICE agent,” together with two targets.
