Massive DHS Data Breach Exposes Thousands of ICE and Border Patrol Agents
A whistleblower leak has exposed sensitive details of approximately 4,500 U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees, including nearly 2,000 frontline Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents. The dataset believed to be the largest breach of DHS staff data to date includes names, work emails, phone numbers, job roles, and some résumé information.
The leak was published by ICE List, a volunteer-run accountability project led by Dominick Skinner, a Netherlands-based activist. Skinner stated the data was received on Monday, following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a protester killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis on January 7. The incident has sparked nationwide outrage, with critics accusing DHS of failing to hold agents accountable.
Skinner, whose project operates outside U.S. jurisdiction to avoid takedowns, said the leak reflects growing internal discontent within federal immigration agencies. Since Good’s death, public submissions to ICE List which documents agent identities and raid details have surged, with reports coming from hotel staff, bar employees, and neighbors of agents. The site previously held data on around 2,000 staff but now possesses records on approximately 6,500.
DHS has long shielded agent identities for safety reasons, but Skinner argues transparency is necessary for reform. He plans to publish verified names, stating that working for ICE or Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is "a bad move on a moral level." Two former ICE employees have already requested removal from the site after quitting.
DHS officials condemned the leak, warning it endangers agents and their families. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended ICE’s work, citing arrests of violent criminals, but acknowledged exceptions for roles like childcare providers and nurses. Meanwhile, the agency faces backlash over Ross, who allegedly misled neighbors about his job, claiming to be a botanist.
The breach underscores escalating tensions between federal immigration enforcement and public accountability efforts.
Homeland Security Investigations cybersecurity rating report: https://www.rankiteo.com/company/homeland-security-investigations
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) cybersecurity rating report: https://www.rankiteo.com/company/u-s-immigration-and-customs-enforcement-ice
"id": "HOMU-S1768328989",
"linkid": "homeland-security-investigations, u-s-immigration-and-customs-enforcement-ice",
"type": "Breach",
"date": "1/2026",
"severity": "100",
"impact": "4",
"explanation": "Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks"{'affected_entities': [{'customers_affected': '4,500 employees (1,800 '
'frontline agents, 150 '
'supervisors, and others)',
'industry': 'Law Enforcement',
'location': 'United States',
'name': 'U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement '
'(ICE)',
'size': 'Large',
'type': 'Government Agency'},
{'customers_affected': 'Included in the 4,500 employees',
'industry': 'Law Enforcement',
'location': 'United States',
'name': 'U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)',
'size': 'Large',
'type': 'Government Agency'},
{'customers_affected': '4,500 employees',
'industry': 'Law Enforcement/National Security',
'location': 'United States',
'name': 'Department of Homeland Security (DHS)',
'size': 'Large',
'type': 'Government Agency'}],
'attack_vector': 'Whistleblower Leak',
'data_breach': {'data_exfiltration': 'Yes (leaked to ICE List Wiki)',
'number_of_records_exposed': '4,500',
'personally_identifiable_information': 'Names, work emails, '
'telephone numbers, '
'roles, previous jobs',
'sensitivity_of_data': 'High (includes work emails, telephone '
'numbers, roles, and resumé data)',
'type_of_data_compromised': ['Personal Identifiable '
'Information (PII)',
'Employment Data']},
'description': 'A Department of Homeland Security whistleblower allegedly '
'released sensitive details of around 4,500 ICE and Border '
'Patrol employees, including names, work emails, telephone '
'numbers, roles, and some resumé data. The leak is believed to '
'be the largest ever breach of DHS staff data and was '
'motivated by accountability concerns following the fatal '
'shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent.',
'impact': {'brand_reputation_impact': 'Significant reputational damage to '
'DHS, ICE, and CBP',
'data_compromised': 'Names, work emails, telephone numbers, roles, '
'resumé data, previous jobs',
'identity_theft_risk': 'High risk of identity theft and targeted '
'harassment for exposed agents',
'operational_impact': 'Potential risk to lives and safety of '
'ICE/Border Patrol agents and their '
'families'},
'investigation_status': 'Ongoing',
'lessons_learned': 'Need for stronger internal accountability mechanisms '
'within DHS; risks of whistleblower leaks in high-profile '
'agencies; importance of protecting law enforcement '
'personnel data.',
'motivation': 'Accountability for law enforcement actions, reform of ICE and '
'CBP',
'post_incident_analysis': {'root_causes': 'Lack of internal accountability '
'for law enforcement actions; '
'whistleblower dissatisfaction with '
'agency practices; public outrage '
"over ICE agent's fatal shooting of "
'Renee Nicole Good.'},
'recommendations': ['Implement stricter access controls for sensitive '
'employee data within DHS.',
'Enhance whistleblower protections and internal reporting '
'channels for misconduct.',
'Improve public communication strategies to address '
'accountability concerns without endangering staff.',
'Conduct a thorough review of data security practices for '
'law enforcement agencies.'],
'references': [{'source': 'The Daily Beast'}],
'response': {'communication_strategy': 'DHS statement on risks to staff '
'safety; public advisories on the '
'breach'},
'stakeholder_advisories': 'DHS has warned about risks to staff safety due to '
'the leak.',
'threat_actor': 'Department of Homeland Security Whistleblower',
'title': 'Personal Details of Thousands of Border Patrol and ICE Agents '
'Allegedly Leaked in Huge Data Breach',
'type': 'Data Breach'}