More than 41,000 personnel working for the US Department of Homeland Security have had their personal information leaked online, marking a significant breach of security for federal law enforcement. The data includes names, work addresses, and phone numbers for thousands of agents involved in immigration enforcement, according to reports from cybersecurity researchers and journalists.
The leak was facilitated by a group calling itself the Department of Peace, which accessed the records through a single sign-on service called Okta. The information was then published online by journalist maia crimew and the website Distributed Denial of Secrets. The groups stated that the goal was to replace anonymity with accountability for officials overseeing covert operations and deportation programs.
Scope of the DHS Data Breach
The majority of the exposed personnel work for Customs and Border Protection, with more than 21,000 agents listed in the leaked files. Nearly 6,600 individuals from Immigration and Customs Enforcement were also identified. The data extends to other divisions within the department, including Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Protective Service, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Beyond basic contact information, the breach contains descriptions of the work performed by each agent. It also includes dozens of previously unknown operation names, the identities of the agents leading those operations, and details about the technology used in the field. Specific mentions include technology provided by Cellbrite and Palantir.
Emma Best, a co-founder of Distributed Denial of Secrets, described the leak as extraordinary but deceptive in its simplicity. She noted that the data identifies officials responsible for overseeing covert operations, the government’s hunt for leakers, and the failed BlueLeaks investigation. The group pointed to actions by ICE agents as the motivation for the hack, referencing comments made by Senator Markwayne Mullin on July 17 regarding increased pressure on immigration enforcement.
Agency Response and Security Concerns
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that the agency is aware of the potential breach. The spokesperson stated that the department is actively working to address the situation swiftly and effectively. They emphasized that all security threats against employees and officers are taken seriously and that steps are being taken to ensure proper protection. The agency promised to update the public when more information becomes available.
Okta, the security platform used for single sign-on access, responded to the claims by asserting that its systems remain secure. A spokeswoman for the company said there is no evidence that Okta’s data or systems were compromised, despite the hackers claiming to have accessed DHS records through the service.
This incident follows a pattern of recent cyberattacks on US government entities. Last month, the FBI was targeted by a group called ShinyHunters, which stole personal information about thousands of agents. In the days leading up to this leak, the Federal Election Commission was taken offline due to a suspected hacking attempt.
The leak occurs against a backdrop of heightened tension surrounding US immigration enforcement. Since President Donald Trump returned to office in 2025, the US has conducted nearly 1 million deportations. Data from the Migration Policy Institute indicates that more than 70% of these deportations involve individuals with no criminal record. Immigration operations this year have seen repeated violence, with ICE agents shooting at more than two dozen people and killing at least nine, including Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minnesota.
Immigration agents often work with their faces covered by masks and sunglasses and rarely identify themselves, despite legal requirements to do so. Politicians have publicly demanded that the DHS enforce these identification rules. The Department of Peace stated that the leak was not intended to be a directory of every DHS agent but rather a tool to hold specific officials accountable for their roles in enforcement actions.
Source: BBC
