Newark, N.J. — A Brooklyn man has been federally charged after authorities said he made violent death threats against a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer and the officer’s family during protests outside Delaney Hall on May 27.
Nicholas Matthew Scelfo was arrested on May 29 and appeared in Newark federal court on June 1. He is accused of threatening to kill the ICE officer’s wife and children amid demonstrations concerning conditions for detainees.
Federal prosecutors said Scelfo was identified within 24 hours through facial recognition technology applied to widely circulated video footage from the protest. Following his arrest, Scelfo admitted to making the threats after seeing media coverage of the incident, according to court documents.
Scelfo faces up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 if convicted.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel issued statements emphasizing the importance of protecting law enforcement officers carrying out their duties.
“Threats of violence against federal officers and their families will not be tolerated,” Blanche said. “Our agents and officers put their lives on the line every day to enforce the law, and we will use every tool at our disposal to hold accountable those who seek to intimidate them.”
FBI Director Kash Patel echoed those remarks, stating that the swift identification and arrest demonstrate the agency’s commitment to investigating threats against federal personnel amid heightened tensions over immigration enforcement.
The protests at Delaney Hall, a detention facility, have drawn attention to alleged conditions for individuals held there. Authorities have stressed that while peaceful protest is protected, crossing into threats or violence will result in prosecution.
Scelfo remains in federal custody pending further court proceedings. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.
