Last Wednesday, a man outside the Delaney Hall detention center in New Jersey was caught on video threatening to kill an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent and his family. The incident led to the arrest of 27-year-old Nicholas Matthew Scelfo from Brooklyn, NY.
Scelfo has been charged by the U.S. Department of Justice for threatening to assault and murder an ICE officer, a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. According to federal court documents, on or about May 27, 2026, Scelfo allegedly screamed at the agent: “I’ll kill your whole fucking family! Your whole fucking family is dead! Your children, your wife, all dead! I have your face, motherfucker! You’re dead! Dead!”
Scelfo appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacey D. Adams in Newark federal court on June 1, 2026, and was released on a $100,000 bond. He is prohibited from returning to Delaney Hall. The charge relates to 18 U.S. Code § 115: “Influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a Federal official by threatening or injuring a family member.”
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed Scelfo was identified using facial recognition technology within 24 hours of the incident. The Department of Homeland Security has reported an 8,000% increase in death threats against ICE officers as they carry out their duties.