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‘The FBI is so corrupt’: Noem, Bondi warn leakers of ICE operations, ‘we will find you, and come after you’

February 10, 2025 | | Print Article

Word of an expected six-figure sting on illegal aliens saw Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem call out one federal agency as “corrupt” over an operation-threatening leak.

The combination of Trump Derangement Syndrome on the left and the GOP leader’s shibboleth smashing since returning to the White House found a particularly heightened opposition against President Donald Trump’s efforts. Along with legal battles over the work to shrink the federal government, mass deportations had Democrats in fits and at least one internal leak putting an operation in California targeting 100,000 illegals in jeopardy.

“The FBI is so corrupt,” reacted Noem on X following a report from the Los Angeles Times crediting an anonymous source for information about the large-scale operation. “We will work with any and every agency to stop leaks and prosecute these crooked deep state agents to the fullest extent of the law.”

Within the report from the Times, the newspaper detailed, “A federal law enforcement source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said agents with the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Los Angeles field offices are being called in to assist.”

The official suggested, “They needed more bodies,” and hedged, “Just because certain information is being given doesn’t mean it’s the administration’s plan, because they know some agents are going to be resistant.”

According to the outlet, “The active federal law enforcement official warned that plans could change due to the ‘chaotic’ nature of the Trump administration’s first few weeks in power and expected pushback from within some of the agencies that will be required to aid ICE.”

Fleshing out the scope of the operation in Southern California, the Daily Mail detailed that 500 Marines from Camp Pendleton between Los Angeles and San Diego had joined what was described as a “mile-long line of DHS trucks and [Customs and Border Protection].”

“It is about to get crazy in California,” a White House intelligence source expressed indicating a West Coast operation was “this week and the East Coast is next week,” as the operation eyed sending 100,000 illegal aliens back to Columbia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico.

During an appearance on Fox News from outside the Super Bowl on Sunday, newly-minted Attorney General Pam Bondi warned, “If anyone leaks anything, people don’t understand that jeopardizes the lives of our great men and women in law enforcement, and if you leaked it, we will find who you are and we will come after you.”

She added, “It’s not going to stop the president’s mission to make America safe again. If you don’t follow the law, you will be prosecuted by the Department of Justice.”

Last week, border czar Tom Homan spoke out after a raid in Colorado had been leaked in advance to the detriment of the operation targeting over 100 members of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua.

“To have this type of interference puts our officers at great risk,” he told Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner. “Not only these officers, but it puts the aliens at great risk, ’cause anything can happen when we take our eyes off the goal here, so addressing that immediately today. I’m addressing OPSEC today, operational security, and how the leaks are happening. We’ve identified how this operation got leaked and I’ll deal with that today.”

Other interference was reported when the San Francisco-based KCBS broadcast the location of agents conducting deportation operations in San Jose last month, crediting the Santa Clara County Rapid Response Network for the tip.

“We have sent a letter of inquiry, a formal investigation into that matter, and they have days left to respond to that inquiry and explain how this could possibly be consistent with their public interest obligations,” Federal Communication Commission Chair Brendan Carr told “Fox & Friends” co-host Brian Kilmeade as he looked into whether or not the station’s license should be revoked.

While another operation in Chicago was leaked to the media in Trump’s first week, causing it to be rescheduled, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller declined to comment to the Times on any specific operation and stated, “We’re primarily a supportive role for these operations.”

Similarly, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives spokesperson Ginger Colbrun told the newspaper, “To ensure operation security and the safety of our agents and partners, ATF does not disclose details of enforcement activities.”

Kevin Haggerty
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