By Steve Neavling
Federal officials amplified a false claim on social media that accused a Connecticut lawmaker of revealing live locations of immigration agents, setting off harassment and threats against him.
Rep. Corey P. Paris, a Democrat from Stamford, said he received death threats and a call laced with racial and homophobic slurs after ICE reshared a post from the right-wing Libs of TikTok account, The New York Times reports.
Paris had written on Instagram that residents should “remain vigilant” after he learned of immigration enforcement in his district. Libs of TikTok then accused him of “doxxing ICE’s live location” and “helping illegals evade arrest,” even though Paris had not shared any specific addresses. ICE republished the post and tagged the Justice Department’s account.
“When ICE re-shared that post, it didn’t just validate misinformation; it legitimized dangerous rhetoric that put my safety at risk,” Paris said. “And federal agencies should not be in the business, quite frankly, of targeting elected officials for speaking up about community safety. That’s our job.”
A Connecticut State Police spokesman confirmed an investigation into threats against Paris.
Asked why ICE shared the Libs of TikTok post, Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said, “We frequently share posts from groups outside of government.” She pointed instead to rising harassment of ICE agents. A Justice Department spokeswoman said the agency “will not tolerate actions that disclose the location of our law enforcement and allow illegal aliens to evade capture.”
Paris is one of several Democrats targeted by Libs of TikTok after warning constituents about immigration enforcement activity. Arizona state Sen. Analise Ortiz faced similar threats last year. Both said they wanted to help residents avoid dangerous encounters with ICE, which has mistakenly detained U.S. citizens and legal residents.
