Texas Man Ordered to Remain in Jail After Threatening ICE Agents and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem
Dallas, TX – April 10, 2025, 2:57 AM PDT
A Texas man accused of issuing violent threats against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem will remain behind bars following a federal court ruling on Wednesday, April 9. Robert King, 35, of McKinney, was ordered detained by U.S. Magistrate Judge Renee Toliver during a hearing in Dallas, capping a swift legal response to his alleged social media outbursts that alarmed authorities and drew national attention.
King’s arrest on March 29 stemmed from a series of inflammatory Facebook posts, where he reportedly threatened to “open fire” on ICE agents if they appeared in his neighborhood, calling them a “secret police force with no real legal authority.” In a separate post, he expressed a desire for Noem to “meet a horrible and agonizing demise” and be “ripped apart in a gulag,” accusing her of Nazi-like conduct. The posts, uncovered by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Dallas, prompted his swift apprehension with assistance from Texas DPS, Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office, and McKinney Police.
Charged on April 7 with transmitting interstate threats—a federal offense carrying up to five years in prison—King faced Judge Toliver, who deemed him a flight risk and a danger to the community. Despite his attorney’s pleas for release, citing no prior criminal history, no weapons found, and ongoing mental health treatment for depression and suicidal thoughts, the judge stood firm. “The nature of these threats outweighs any mitigating factors,” Toliver said, per court observers. King, visibly distraught, was seen crying as he left the courtroom, destined to stay in Kaufman County detention pending trial.
The case has unfolded against a tense backdrop of immigration enforcement under Noem’s leadership at DHS. On Tuesday, she joined ICE agents in Phoenix for high-profile raids targeting illegal immigrants linked to crimes like murder and human trafficking, reinforcing her hardline stance. King’s threats, posted days after a viral TikTok urging violence against ICE, underscored the volatile public reaction to these policies. “If you threaten or attempt to harm a law enforcement officer, we will find you and prosecute you,” Noem had warned on X on March 30, a promise swiftly fulfilled in King’s case.
While King’s attorney pushes for a transfer to a facility with better mental health support, the ruling sends a stark message about the consequences of online threats. As the investigation continues, with potential additional charges looming, this Texas man’s fate remains a flashpoint in the broader debate over security, free speech, and immigration enforcement in 2025.