Department of Peace leaks data of 41,000 Homeland Security personnel

Over 41,000 personnel from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have had their personal details exposed in a significant data breach. A hacking group calling itself the Department of Peace released sensitive information, including the names, home addresses, and phone numbers of agents primarily involved in immigration and border enforcement. The breach was executed using data stored in a database known as Icepick, exposing the identities of thousands of officials across several federal agencies.

The leak specifically identifies more than 21,000 Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and approximately 6,600 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel. Other DHS divisions were also affected by the release. The group, which includes a hacker known as maia crimew, reportedly shared the information online to challenge what they describe as government anonymity in covert deportation operations. By exposing these details, the group claims it seeks to bring greater accountability to federal immigration enforcement activities.

While the hackers attributed the breach to an exploit involving the security service Okta, the company has maintained that its internal systems were not compromised. This incident marks the third recent major breach targeting US government agencies, following similar attacks on the FBI and the Federal Election Commission. DHS officials have confirmed they are aware of the situation and are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the unauthorized release of employee data.

The leak has sparked serious security concerns regarding the safety of the personnel whose private information is now in the public domain. It highlights an ongoing tension between activists demanding transparency in immigration enforcement and the government's efforts to protect the identities of its field agents. As the Department of Homeland Security works to mitigate the fallout, the incident underscores the growing vulnerability of state databases to politically motivated cyberattacks.