Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed during an appearance on Fox & Friends Weekend that federal officers are facing an “unprecedented” threat from gangs, cartel members, and known terrorist organizations. According to Noem, intelligence reports show these groups have placed bounties on specific agents—offering $2,000 to kidnap them and $10,000 to kill them—while circulating their photos across criminal networks.

Noem cited a violent incident in Chicago as evidence of the escalating threat. She described how a caravan of 10 vehicles allegedly followed and cornered federal agents, attempting to run them over and threatening them with semi-automatic weapons. In response, agents opened fire in self-defense, resulting in one suspect being hospitalized.

The DHS secretary emphasized that such attacks are not isolated events but part of a coordinated and growing effort to undermine federal law enforcement. “They want to take them down because they want to stop operations that keep them from making money off their criminal networks,” Noem said. She stressed the level of planning involved in these ambushes shows just how serious the threat has become.

To protect personnel, Noem confirmed that high-risk agents now have protective details, and DHS has modified its operations to prevent further targeting. “This is an extremely dangerous and unprecedented situation,” she said, warning that these threats go beyond protest or civil unrest and represent direct, violent opposition to law enforcement.

Meanwhile, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker criticized the federal presence in Chicago, accusing agents of using excessive force and blaming President Trump for turning the city into what he called a “war zone.”

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