DHS is the federal cabinet department that oversees multiple agencies including ICE. ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is a DHS law‑enforcement agency with two main operational components: Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). HSI is ICE’s principal criminal investigative arm that handles transnational and domestic criminal investigations (weapons, explosives, threats, attacks on federal personnel) and would lead a federal criminal probe in a case like this; DHS provides overall policy, coordination and public statements.
“Ongoing with ICE HSI” means HSI special agents are actively investigating the matter at the federal level. If HSI uncovers violations of federal law (for example statutes covering threats/assaults on federal officers, explosives/destructive devices, or firearms offenses), prosecutors can bring federal charges in addition to the Oregon state charges; the dual‑sovereignty doctrine permits both state and federal prosecutions for the same conduct.
Under Oregon law, "unlawful manufacture of a destructive device" (ORS 166.384) criminalizes assembling/producing a destructive device (Class C felony). "Criminal conspiracy" (ORS 161.450) requires an agreement to commit a felony and (depending on the charge) an overt act in furtherance; a conspiracy to commit first‑degree assault accuses agreeing to commit the statutory elements of assault in the first degree (serious physical injury or use of a deadly weapon). Prosecutors must prove the elements of each statute beyond a reasonable doubt: manufacture/assembly of the device for ORS 166.384; existence of an agreement and steps toward it for conspiracy; and the factual elements that define first‑degree assault under Oregon law.
Under federal and many state definitions, items like glass bottles, liquid accelerants (gasoline), rags/fuse material and packing material are the typical components of a Molotov cocktail; a Molotov cocktail is treated as an "incendiary" or "destructive device" because it is designed to ignite and cause damage. Federal law (and ATF guidance) treats Molotov cocktails and similar improvised incendiary devices as destructive devices; state statutes (including Oregon’s) also define ‘‘destructive device’’ to cover incendiary devices and similar weapons. Whether particular items alone suffice depends on context (assembly, intent, and capability to cause damage).
The DHS statement’s percentage figures derive from DHS internal reporting of incidents against ICE and CBP personnel (assaults and threats) referenced in DHS/ICE briefing materials and public statements; DHS/ICE collect and compare year‑over‑year counts (so very small baselines can yield large percentage swings). DHS did not provide detailed methodology in the news release, so exact denominators and timeframes are not publicly specified in that statement.
Possessing or ordering an AR‑15 is not per se illegal under federal law for a person who is legally eligible to own firearms; however, possession or use in furtherance of a criminal plot (threats, conspiracy, making destructive devices) can trigger additional federal and state offenses. A pending delivery is investigative evidence (shows intent/means) and can be used by prosecutors or investigators but does not by itself create a federal crime unless other legal prohibitions apply (e.g., the recipient is prohibited from possessing firearms).
"Sanctuary politicians" is a political term typically used by critics to describe elected officials who limit local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement (e.g., ordinances/policies that restrict city/county compliance with ICE detainers). DHS’s statement links heated anti‑enforcement rhetoric by such officials or their supporters to environments that may encourage attacks, asserting that hostile rhetoric contributes to threats and violence; empirical causal links are debated and require case‑by‑case analysis. The DHS release does not identify specific officials but uses the term to argue rhetoric can incite violence.