Hackers target Trump's immigration crackdown, leak data on 41,000 DHS employees
Photo: Hackers leaked data on more than 41,000 US Department of Homeland Security employees (Getty Images)
The hacking group Department of Peace has published a database containing information on more than 41,000 US Department of Homeland Security officials. The exposed records include employees of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), according to CNBC.
The database was published late on October 28 on the website of Distributed Denial of Secrets, a nonprofit organization that publishes leaked data. According to CNBC, it contains employees' names, departments, job titles, phone numbers, email addresses, and even the names of their direct supervisors. The database is searchable.
The leak affected employees of:
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE);
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US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS);
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Customs and Border Protection (CBP);
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the Department of Homeland Security's headquarters.
Hackers claim they obtained the data through Okta, a single sign-on service used by the department. Okta, however, said its systems are secure and that there is no evidence of a breach.
The Department of Homeland Security told The Washington Post that it was aware of the potential data leak and was working quickly to address the situation.
The hackers said their actions were in response to a statement by DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. On July 17, he reportedly promised that ICE would "turn up the heat on the streets" by stepping up migrant arrests and traffic stops.
During President Donald Trump's second term, ICE has sharply intensified arrests and deportations. This has sparked widespread criticism, as agents have repeatedly been filmed using force against people.
The tougher immigration policy has also affected foreign nationals legally residing in the United States. In August, labor unions and civil rights organizations challenged new rules on visa validity periods for international students, scholars, and journalists in court. The plaintiffs argue that the changes will create serious problems for universities, students, and media organizations, and have asked a federal court in Massachusetts to block them.
