An ICE assistant chief counsel, James Rodden, was reportedly seen back in the prosecutor’s chair at a Dallas immigration hearing after reporting linked him to a pseudonymous account that posted racist messages. ICE removed him from court schedules last year and said its Office of Professional Responsibility would investigate; observers say the agency has provided no public update. Democratic lawmakers condemned the apparent return and are demanding answers as concerns grow about accountability in immigration enforcement and DHS messaging.
Democrats Demand Answers as ICE Prosecutor Reportedly Returns After Linked to Racist Social Account
An official who serves as an assistant chief counsel and prosecutor for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was reportedly seen back in the prosecutor’s chair this week after reporting tied him to a pseudonymous social media account that posted explicit racist content.
On Tuesday, the Texas Observer reported seeing James Rodden seated in a prosecutor’s chair at an immigration hearing in Dallas and published a photograph identifying him by a staff badge. The Observer’s reporting last year linked Rodden to a pseudonymous account that posted messages including, “America is a White nation,” “'Migrants' are all criminals,” and “All blacks are foreign to my people.” The same account also reportedly proclaimed, “I’m not a commie, I’m a fascist.”
ICE previously removed Rodden from immigration court schedules after the Observer’s initial reporting and said it opened an internal inquiry. In a March letter to Representative Marc Veasey, ICE said its Office of Professional Responsibility would investigate the allegations; according to the Observer, ICE has provided no further public update on that review.
When approached by the Observer last year, Rodden declined to answer questions and directed reporters to his press office. MS NOW has not independently verified the Observer’s reporting, and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to MS NOW’s request for comment about the apparent return to duty.
The badge of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on June 09, 2025 in New York City.(Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images)
Lawmakers’ Reactions
Democratic lawmakers and civil-rights critics condemned the apparent return. Representative Marc Veasey warned the story will not be allowed to “go unnoticed,” saying,
“White supremacists should not hold positions of authority in our justice system, and I will do everything in my power to ensure that Rodden is held accountable.”
Senator Ruben Gallego posted on X: “ICE hiring literal Nazis to represent them in court. And instead of kicking him out for white supremacy, they reward him by keeping him on the job.” Gallego’s post framed the report as part of broader concerns about who enforces immigration law.
Context And Ongoing Concerns
The report arrives amid heightened scrutiny of Department of Homeland Security social-media messaging and criticism of federal immigration enforcement tactics, which some critics describe as increasingly aggressive and at times dangerous. Observers say the apparent return of a prosecutor linked by reporting to racist posts raises questions about internal accountability and public trust in immigration courts.
ICE has acknowledged an internal review but has not publicly released findings; lawmakers who requested information say they have not received a clear explanation for Rodden’s status. The matter remains under public and congressional scrutiny.
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