A Brooklyn man who was caught on video threatening to murder a federal immigration agent and his family during a riot outside a New Jersey detention center last week has been caught and charged.
Nicholas Matthew Scelfo, 27, was “arrested for influencing, impeding, and retaliating against a federal officer by threat” after he was caught on video outside the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement’s Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, New Jersey making the threats.
The U.S. Department of Justice cited videos on social media showing Scelfo yelling at an ICE agent and saying: “I’ll kill your whole f—— family! Your whole f—— family is dead! Your children, your wife, all dead! I have your face, motherf—–! You’re dead! Dead!”
🚨 BREAKING: FBI has just RAIDED and ARRESTED the man who I caught on video threatening the lives of an ICE agent and his family outside ICE Newark
Nicholas Scelfo is facing FEDERAL FELONIES
THIS IS HOW IT’S DONE! 🔥
THANK YOU to @FBIDirectorKash and @DAGToddBlanche for… pic.twitter.com/R3iFty1Drs
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 30, 2026
Scelfo after his arrest admitted to threatening the ICE agent and his family, according to the DOJ.
“Federal law enforcement officers face danger with great courage, and they should be able to do their jobs without being threatened and fearing for their families’ lives,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement. “We take such threats very seriously and will prosecute those who make them to the fullest extent of the law.”
FBI Director Kash Patel said his agency was able to locate and arrest Scelfo within 24 hours using facial recognition technology.
“In particular, I want to thank Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche who moved extremely quickly to locate, pursue, and bring the subject to justice — as well as our FBI Newark and New York teams who executed brilliantly,” he said. “Let this be a message to any criminal actor who may try something similar: you touch a cop, and this FBI will put you down.”
CASE UPDATE from @FBINewark and @NewYorkFBI: Brooklyn Man Charged with Threatening to Assault and Murder ICE Officer and His Family
Nicholas Matthew Scelfo was arrested for influencing, impeding, and retaliating against a federal officer by threat. During a May 2026… pic.twitter.com/Klugwd3Ttj
— FBI (@FBI) June 1, 2026
Scelfo faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
“This violent rioter who allegedly threatened to murder an ICE law enforcement officer and his family is being brought to justice,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said. “Our ICE officers are facing an 8,000% increase in death threats against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists. Our officers have been assaulted, doxxed, their families threatened. This violence against law enforcement must end. President Trump and I will always stand with our law enforcement officers.”
