FIRST ON FOX: The Department of Homeland Security fired a senior Customs and Border Protection official on Thursday after it was revealed that the officer had been allegedly leaking sensitive, personal information about CBP personnel, as well as negotiations regarding the border wall to the press, sources within the department told Fox News Digital. 

The official, who was unnamed, was marched out of his CBP office in Washington D.C., after DHS discovered the leak, sources said.

«As DHS law enforcement face an 8,000% increase in death threats, leaking law enforcement sensitive information is abhorrently dangerous,» a DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital. «DHS is agnostic about your standing, tenure, political appointment, or status as a career civil servant — we will track down leakers and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.»

The news comes just days after a Fox News Digital investigation uncovered an underground communications network being used by anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agitators across the country. Tactics include the doxxing of agents, the tracking of license plates and releases of personal information about agents.

NOEM PRAISES DHS OFFICERS ON LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY AS ATTACKS ON FEDERAL AGENTS SPIKE NATIONWIDE

Fox News Digital also learned that at least 13 database systems are now known to store the data, which includes personal information as well as photographs, uniform details, behavior patterns, phone numbers, and other sensitive items. 

Last week, FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency is investigating the now widely known Signal messaging chats that have allowed agitators to communicate to obstruct and confront federal agents in Minneapolis and in cities across the country. 

It is unclear whether the officer who was fired on Thursday had any involvement in Signal group activities, as sources at DHS could only confirm leaks to the press.

THE FAR-LEFT NETWORK THAT HELPED PUT ALEX PRETTI IN HARM’S WAY, THEN MADE HIM A MARTYR

The same Fox News Digital investigation reveals that sensitive information is at the center of what’s driving vigilante-type agitators to travel to hot spots where demonstrations are taking place. 

The Party for Socialism and Liberation turned Alex Pretti into a poster boy for its protests by using quick graphics for its anti-ICE efforts. (Party for Socialism and Liberation/X)

A nationwide web of hundreds of anti-ICE groups facilitates a «rapid response» system to train civilians and call them to action. Federal law enforcement officers have clashed with the trained and allegedly well-funded agitators on multiple occasions. These clashes have led to assaults on agents, raising concern over potentially physical and potentially deadly outcomes for both agitators and agents.

One such arrest was that of Kyle Wagner, a self-described Antifa member and Minneapolis resident who was arrested after he allegedly encouraged followers to attack ICE agents. In a video obtained by Fox News Digital, he is heard telling followers they should «get your guns» and identify agents. 

In announcing his arrest, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Wagner «allegedly doxxed and called for the murder of law enforcement officers, encouraged bloodshed in the streets, and proudly claimed affiliation with the terrorist organization Antifa before going on the run.»

Antifa agitator Kyle Wagner was arrested after threatening ICE agents with violence. (DOJ)

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Wagner’s case and the uncovering of a multichannel communications network allegedly used to push and promote agitators to confront ICE agents are being investigated by a number of federal agencies. 

The senior CBP official’s firing is just the latest development by individuals exposing the identities of federal law enforcement officers that could ultimately put agents or their families in danger.

Fox News’ Andrew Mark Miller and Asra Q. Nomani contributed to this report.

El Ejército chino realizó ejercicios «aéreas y navales” en el mar de China Meridional entre el 2 y el 6 de febrero, en respuesta a los maniobras conjuntas organizadas el mes pasado por Filipinas y Estados Unidos en la región.

Zhai Shichen, portavoz del Comando del Teatro Sur del Ejército Popular de Liberación (EPL), acusó a Filipinas de aliarse con “países ajenos a la región” para llevar a cabo “patrullas aéreas bilaterales” que, según afirmó, “socavan la paz y la estabilidad regionales”.

El vocero del régimen aseguró que las fuerzas chinas “permanecerán en estado de máxima alerta” y defenderán “con firmeza la soberanía territorial de China y sus derechos e intereses marítimos”, sin ofrecer detalles sobre los medios empleados en las patrullas.

Estas maniobras siguieron a ejercicios similares realizados por China entre el 25 y el 26 de enero, después de que Filipinas y Estados Unidos organizaran una navegación conjunta en el arrecife de Scarborough —conocido en China como Huangyan y en Filipinas como Bajo de Masinloc—, dentro de la zona económica exclusiva que Manila reclama.

Las autoridades filipinas calificaron la operación como la primera actividad marítima cooperativa bilateral entre ambos países en 2026 y la undécima desde finales de 2023. China reclama la soberanía casi total del mar de China Meridional, zona estratégica por la que circula cerca del 30% del comercio marítimo mundial y que cuenta con valiosos caladeros y potenciales reservas de hidrocarburos, frente a las reivindicaciones de Filipinas, Vietnam, Malasia y otros Estados ribereños.

En 2016, la Corte Permanente de Arbitraje de La Haya falló a favor de Filipinas en una disputa territorial, decisión que Beijing rechazó y decidió no reconocer. Desde que el presidente filipino Ferdinand Marcos Jr. asumió el cargo en 2022, Manila reforzó su cooperación en defensa con el país norteamericano, lo que coincidió con un aumento de las fricciones con el régimen de Xi Jinping en la región.

Estados Unidos ya había mostrado su apoyo en diciembre cuando condenó las acciones de la Guardia Costera china contra embarcaciones pesqueras filipinas en aguas disputadas del mar de China Meridional, incidente que dejó tres pescadores heridos tras el uso de cañones de agua y maniobras de bloqueo.

“Condenamos el uso de los cañones de agua por parte de China cerca del Sabina Shoal. Estas acciones agresivas ponen en peligro la vida de los pescadores filipinos, que buscan obtener su sustento”, señaló el Departamento de Estado en un comunicado.

El enfrentamiento se produjo cuando una veintena de embarcaciones pesqueras filipinas faenaban en las inmediaciones del mar. Según el portavoz del Servicio de Guardacostas de Filipinas, Jay Tarriela, los pescadores estaban “faenando dentro de la legalidad” cuando fueron atacados por dos buques de la Guardia Costera china.

En paralelo, desde Taiwán, el ministro de Defensa Koo Li-hsiung advirtió que la repetición de ejercicios militares chinos cerca de la isla puede insensibilizar a la población, aunque subrayó que la amenaza proveniente de Beijing es “urgente” y “existe de verdad”.

En declaraciones recogidas por la agencia CNA, Koo señaló que China realiza habitualmente “patrullas de aplicación de la ley” en aguas cercanas a las islas periféricas de Taiwán y alrededor de la línea media del Estrecho, buscando “crear la falsa apariencia” de que la zona pertenece a sus aguas internas.

El funcionario también alertó sobre riesgos en ciberseguridad, como “ciberataques e intrusiones” de hackers, y denunció el uso simultáneo de herramientas políticas, económicas, militares y psicológicas por parte de China para llevar a cabo una “guerra cognitiva” contra Taiwán.

“Cuando estas acciones se repiten constantemente, nos preocupa que puedan adormecer las defensas psicológicas de la población; en realidad, esta amenaza enemiga es urgente y existe de verdad”, enfatizó.

Koo aportó estadísticas que muestran un incremento en la actividad militar china: en 2025, aeronaves principales y de apoyo del Ejército Popular de Liberación cruzaron la línea media del estrecho e ingresaron en la Zona de Identificación de Defensa Aérea (ADIZ) taiwanesa en 3.764 ocasiones, frente a 3.066 el año anterior (aumento del 2%). Además, los buques de guerra chinos entraron en esa zona en 2.640 ocasiones, frente a 2.475 en 2024 (aumento del 7%).

(Con información de EFE)

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has been a lightning rod for criticism amid anti-ICE riots that have rocked the country, sparked a government shutdown and left many wondering whether the nation’s eighth DHS secretary would keep her job.

Despite the mounting pressure, Noem appeared calm, collected and confident during a trip this week that included a stop in Mississippi to assess winter storm damage recovery efforts, visits to the southern border in Texas and Arizona as well as the northern border in North Dakota and a barbecue dinner hosted and served by Noem to Border Patrol agents in Arizona.

During the first half of the four-day stint, Congress was still dealing with a partial government shutdown largely over how to fund DHS. The House ultimately reached an agreement, funding the agency through Feb. 13, but Noem’s focus remained the same before and after the bill passed, and her schedule was left unchanged.

During an exclusive interview along the border wall in Nogales, Arizona, Noem told Fox News Digital the national security functions of the agency are too vital to be sidelined by a spending fight.

BORDER CROSSINGS HIT 55-YEAR LOW — AFTER DEMOCRATS SAID REFORM WAS THE ONLY FIX

«Every day [DHS is] finding terrorists and removing them from our country, protecting our cybersecurity systems, our critical infrastructure,» Noem told Fox. «Only 11% of the DHS budget is ICE. The rest of it is FEMA, TSA, that runs our security checkpoints at our airports.

«It is also the Coast Guard, which is absolutely critical to our maritime protection and also partnering with the Department of War,» Noem added. «We have weapons of mass destruction, science and technology, our national labs.

«We have a lot of responsibilities that we absolutely need to fund in order to do them properly. So, I’m hopeful that Congress will recognize that and pass this bill quickly.»

KRISTI NOEM TO TESTIFY BEFORE HOUSE COMMITTEE NEXT MONTH

But the debate over government spending wasn’t about the Coast Guard, FEMA or TSA. It was almost entirely based on one of the 23 agencies Noem oversees, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. Specifically, it centered around ICE’s actions in Minneapolis, a so-called sanctuary city in which local authorities provide only minimal support to federal officers enforcing immigration laws.

Federal law enforcement agents detain a demonstrator during a raid in south Minneapolis Jan. 13, 2026.  (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Since the beginning of the year, DHS estimates that Operation Metro Surge has resulted in the apprehension of 4,000 criminal illegal migrants in Minneapolis. The operation was launched mainly due to a fraud scheme that involved members of the Somali community in Minnesota.

The mission then evolved into a heated clash between agitators and federal officers that ultimately left two U.S. citizens dead, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both killed by federal immigration agents.

NOEM VOWS CRIMINAL PROSECUTION AFTER CATCHING ALLEGED DHS ‘PROLIFIC LEAKER’

Noem quickly labeled both Good and Pretti «domestic terrorists» and said their deaths were due to impeding «law enforcement operations,» sparking outrage from Democrats and some Republicans who began to call for her resignation. 

Rumors swirled whether Noem would resign or if President Donald Trump would fire her, but the president told reporters shortly after the death of Pretti he had no intention of relieving her from her position as head of DHS.

When Fox News Digital asked Noem what she believed the American people want when it comes to ICE enforcing the law using the same tactics that led to riots, deaths and assaults on both agitators and agents, Noem said, «I think people would want less conflict.»

President Donald Trump has repeatedly backed DHS chief Noem in public comments in January.  (Jim Watson/Getty Images)

LEAVITT SAYS TRUMP WILL NOT ‘WAVER’ ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN DESPITE DEMOCRATIC BACKLASH

«[The American people] want to know that we’re enforcing our laws and that we are going after dangerous criminals, and they don’t want them to be released on the streets to perpetuate more crimes,» Noem explained. 

At some stops along Noem’s trip, agitators appeared. At a dinner she hosted inside a hotel in Tucson, Arizona, for CBP officers, protesters with drums, megaphones and seemingly pre-made signs gathered at the entrance of the hotel. Every other car traveling by the demonstration honked, though it’s unclear whether they were honking in support or in disagreement with the protesters. 

A Quinnipiac University survey taken from Jan. 29 to Feb. 2 showed 58% of those questioned say Noem shouldn’t have her job.

DHS SECRETARY NOEM STANDS BY BODY CAMERA REQUIREMENT FOR FEDERAL AGENTS FOLLOWING TRUMP COMMENTS

Fox News Digital spoke with a GOP insider who pointed to Noem’s inexperience on the national stage, saying her time as governor of South Dakota didn’t prepare her for one of the most challenging roles in the presidential cabinet.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem meets with CBP officials at Eagle Pass, Texas, Feb. 3, 2026.  (Kat Ramirez for Fox News Digital)

Despite the critics, Noem’s record on securing the border has proven successful, according to figures provided by the department and the Trump administration. Trump’s goal to deter illegal migrants from crossing the border, which was Noem’s mandate, has been a priority for the White House. 

More illegal migrants crossed the southern border in one average month under former President Biden’s watch than have crossed under Noem’s entire watch, according to DHS.

NOEM DEPLOYS TO BOTH BORDERS, SAYS ICE WON’T BE DETERRED BY SANCTUARY OFFICIALS WHO ‘WANT TO CREATE CONFLICT’

«We have over 3 million people that have deported, and that includes probably about 700,000 that we have detained and removed,» Noem told Fox News Digital Wednesday. «Beyond that, over 2.3 million have self-deported.

«You know, you send the message around the world that America is now going to be enforcing its laws and making sure that if you’re in this country illegally, that you should go home, and we’ve been incentivizing that through a $2,600 payment and a flight,» Noem added. «Millions of people have taken us up on that.»

Trump defended Noem for a second time during remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast Thursday when discussing whether he would relinquish her command at DHS.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem (not pictured) displays a footage of photos showing illegal border crossings a year ago as she meets with CBP officials at Eagle Pass, Texas, Feb. 3, 2026.  (Kat Ramirez for Fox News Digital)

HOUSE DEMOCRATS HOLD ‘SHADOW HEARINGS’ AS THEY BUILD CASE TO IMPEACH KRISTI NOEM

«Why would I do that? We have the strongest border in the history of our country,» Trump said. «We have the best crime numbers we’ve ever had going back to the year 1900. That’s 125 years. We have the lowest crime numbers.»

Trump also appointed Tom Homan, the former ICE director during Trump’s first term and the executive associate director of Enforcement and Removal Operations under President Barack Obama, to serve as border czar, a role previously held by Kamala Harris. 

Some reports painted a picture of an unspoken rivalry between Homan and Noem after Trump’s decision to put Homan in command of the situation in Minneapolis.

NOEM SLAMS DEMS, BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR LACKING ‘COMPASSION’ AMID ANTI-ICE TENSIONS

But Noem told Fox News Digital she credited Homan for working to get local leaders in Minneapolis to come to the table and negotiate order in what has been a chaotic scene in the Twin Cities.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a roundtable in the State Dining Room of the White House Oct. 8, 2025. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

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«What people need to remember is that Democrat policies were destroying our country,» Noem said. «And President Trump came in and said, ‘I’m going to protect the American people. It’s not going to happen anymore.’

«Since [the Biden administration], thousands of people’s lives have been saved just here, just right here on the border, because those migrants are not victimized anymore.»

Preston Mizell is a writer with Fox News. Story tips can be sent to Preston.Mizell@fox.com and on X @MizellPreston