U.S. intelligence authorities are seeing a rise in online discussions among domestic extremists about preparations for what they imagine to be an imminent civil war, according to the Department of Homeland Security, POLITICO reports. The discussions — which largely take place in anonymous, unmoderated online forums — are linked to the 2024 election and concerns about immigration. “Some domestic violent extremists (DVEs) are reacting to the 2024 election season and prominent policy issues by engaging in illegal preparatory or violent activity that they link to the narrative of an impending civil war, raising the risk of violence against government targets and ideological opponents,” the Sept. 6 report from the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis says. The report reflects widely held concerns that violence could mar the election. It was obtained through a public records request by Property of the People, a pro-transparency nonprofit. A mob of former President Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol In 2021 in an effort to derail the transfer of power. Many public officials and election workers have faced sustained harassment and threats. At least five people who promoted the idea of imminent civil war this year now face criminal charges.
The DHS report said that “perceptions of election fraud” could trigger violence, as could fears of mass migration and crimes committed by non-U.S. citizens. One internet user said a hypothetical executive order granting citizenship to migrants would justify murder. “Biden does that executive order, we shoot all democrat officials,” the user wrote. “And the supporting federal agents.” While warning of the potential for violence, the report said large-scale action by extremists is unlikely because of law enforcement infiltration of online groups and the convictions of prominent organizers of the Jan. 6,, 2021 attack. The document says extremists are increasingly using encrypted channels to limit the feds’ visibility into their communications. A DHS spokesperson said the department urges state and local law enforcement to “to remain vigilant” to possible threats. Law enforcement agencies around the U.S. have been scrambling to develop polling-site safety plans with local election administrators. The Justice Department has put in place a task force to prosecute people who threaten election workers.
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