An activist hacking group posted the personal information of more than 40,000 employees of the Department of Homeland Security online this week following a massive breach of the agency’s computer systems.
The incident was apparently meant to protest a recent spate of hard-line immigration enforcement efforts deployed by the Trump administration, according to a missive posted online by the group.
The online “hacktivist” group known as the Department of Peace took credit for the cyberattack. It then turned copies of the data over to Distributed Denial of Secrets, a platform known for hosting leaked information, and a Swiss online activist known as maia arson crimew.
“On July 17th, Markwayne Mullin said he was ‘turning up the heat.’ This is what happens to ICE when you do that,” a Department of Peace spokesperson said, referencing a comment made by the DHS secretary earlier this year.
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DHS acknowledged the reported breach in a statement shared with The Washington Sun.
“DHS is aware of a potential breach and is actively working to address the situation swiftly and effectively,” a DHS spokesperson said. “We take all security threats against our employees and officers seriously and will work to ensure all are properly protected. We will update the public when more information is available.”
The data breach, which the hackers dubbed “Icepick,” leaked the employees’ names, offices, contact information and assignments, according to an announcement posted by Distributed Denial of Secrets.
Some social media sites have taken steps to avoid further disseminating the personal information of the thousands of government employees who have been affected. Bluesky has been blocking links to the leaked information, Wired reported Wednesday.
DHS has been the target of several cyberattacks in recent months, with hackers breaching the Homeland Security Information Network, which helps the department share information with other government agencies, earlier this year.
Since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term, he has directed his administration to take a more aggressive approach to immigration enforcement efforts. The White House’s “Secure the Border” website touts the deportation of more than 2.5 million undocumented immigrants since January 2025.
But the administration’s enforcement crackdown has been met with strong pushback from communities across the country.
The deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents has at times spurred deadly confrontations with undocumented immigrants and community members protesting the presence of the federal officials. An ABC News report published last month found that more than 20 people have been shot by federal immigration agents during Trump’s second term.
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