Fact Check: "ICE is made up of January 6th rioters"
What We Know
The claim that "ICE is made up of January 6th rioters" suggests that individuals who participated in the January 6th Capitol riot are now employed by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). However, there is no credible evidence to support this assertion.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released statements regarding the riots in Los Angeles, where they emphasized the violent actions of rioters but did not link these individuals to ICE employment (DHS Releases Statement on Violent Rioters Assaulting). Furthermore, a fact-check from Yahoo News clarified that there was no evidence to support claims that any January 6th rioters were employed by ICE, specifically debunking a statement made by South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem (Noem didn't tell Congress that Republicans voted for Jan. 6).
Analysis
The claim appears to stem from a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of the relationship between the January 6th rioters and ICE. The sources that address the riots, including the DHS statements, focus on the actions of the rioters and the response from law enforcement, without any mention of ICE personnel being involved in the riots or being former rioters (DHS Debunks Fake News Media Narratives from June).
Moreover, the lack of credible sources linking ICE to January 6th rioters raises questions about the reliability of the claim. The only mention of ICE in the context of the January 6th events comes from political commentary and speculation rather than documented evidence. The original claim lacks substantiation from reputable news outlets or official government statements.
In evaluating the sources, the DHS is a primary authority on immigration and customs enforcement, making their statements particularly relevant. The Associated Press, which reported on Trump's pardons of January 6th rioters, provided context but did not connect those individuals to employment within ICE (Trump warns protesters who spit on police but pardoned).
Conclusion
The claim that "ICE is made up of January 6th rioters" is False. There is no evidence to suggest that individuals who participated in the January 6th Capitol riot are employed by ICE. The available sources do not support this assertion, and credible fact-checks have debunked it.
Sources
- DHS Releases Statement on Violent Rioters Assaulting
- DHS Debunks Fake News Media Narratives from June
- Trump warns protesters who spit on police but pardoned
- Sea level rise is a global threat β hereβs why | World Economic Forum
- Sea ice is melting. Why business leaders must pay attention
- Noem didn't tell Congress that Republicans voted for Jan. 6