A Texas man accused of issuing online threats against federal immigration agents and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will remain behind bars following a federal court ruling on Wednesday, as Fox News reported.

Robert King, 35, was ordered to stay in custody after a detention hearing held before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renee Toliver in Dallas. The court determined King posed both a flight risk and a danger to the community.

Robert King, a U.S. citizen was recently taken into custody in McKinney, Texas for making terroristic threats against ICE agents and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

King’s alarming social media posts included intentions to “open fire” if agents are seen in his neighborhood. pic.twitter.com/LyVf3M6ECe

— HSI Dallas (@HSI_Dallas) April 2, 2025

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He had been charged on Monday with transmitting interstate threats and was arrested March 29 in McKinney, Texas.

The ruling came despite arguments from King’s attorney, who emphasized that King had no prior criminal record, did not possess any weapons, and was actively seeking mental health treatment for depression and suicidal thoughts.

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King was visibly upset after the ruling and was seen crying as he was escorted out of the courtroom.

Federal prosecutors allege that King made multiple violent threats on Facebook aimed at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and Secretary Noem.

One of King’s posts referenced a PBS NewsHour article and included a direct threat against Noem. In that post, King wrote:

“I truly hope, and I mean this with all my heart, that Kristi Noem meets a horrible and agonizing demise I hope she is tried in a war criminal court with the rest of the Nazis when this is all over and I hope she is ripped apart in a gulag. Nothing less for a Nazi scum. This is America now a Nazi fascist state. Disgusting.”

In a separate post, King wrote about ICE agents: “a secret police force with no real legal authority,” and said he would be “opening fire” on agents if he saw them in his neighborhood. According to court documents, he later reiterated that threat, stating:

“Just wanna double down on what I said the other day: if ICE comes to your neighborhood, f**king shoot them and kill them. No mercy for the Gestapo.”

Federal authorities were alerted to the posts through a tip received by the FBI’s national tip line.

NEW: The Texas man who allegedly threatened to shoot & kill ICE agents & urged his followers to do the same left a federal courtroom crying today after he was ordered held in detention, with the magistrate determining he is a threat and a flight risk, according to our @FoxNews… pic.twitter.com/C6OYChg7T1

— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) April 9, 2025

At the time of the alleged threats, King was living with his sister and brother-in-law in Texas. His brother-in-law is a police officer and a former U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent. King was reportedly expelled from the home after his threats surfaced.

King is currently being held in Kaufman County detention. His legal counsel is requesting that he be moved to another facility to ensure he receives proper mental health care and access to necessary medications.

The case remains ongoing.

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