From Fox News: Top brass at the Department of Homeland Security told Fox News Digital the agency’s Investigations unit is now on the case of a Virginia educator and his brother accused of plotting to attack ICE, potentially with explosive rounds.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Wednesday that Kempsville High School assistant principal John Wilson Bennett and his older brother Mark Booth Bennett were overheard at a Vietnamese restaurant in Virginia Beach allegedly conspiring to go to Nevada and plan attacks on ICE agents in retribution for what they claimed to be “kidnapping[s]” of civilians during recent immigration enforcement operations.
A press release posted on the DHS website shares chilling details on the brothers’ scheme:
Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the arrest of John Wilson Bennett and Mark Booth Bennett, both United States citizens, for planning to carry out attacks against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
On November 17, 2025, DHS alongside the Virginia Beach Police Department launched an investigation after an off-duty Norfolk, Virginia police officer overheard John Wilson Bennett, and his brother Mark Booth Bennett, discussing plans to “kill police officers and ICE agents.” Mark Bennett was also overheard saying he was planning to meet with likeminded individuals in Las Vegas, Nevada, to purchase firearms with explosive rounds to carry out the attacks.
On November 19, 2025, Mark Bennett was arrested at the Norfolk International Airport where he was scheduled to depart on a flight to Charlotte, North Carolina, en route to Las Vegas. The same day, John Bennett was arrested in Virginia Beach, where he has served as the Assistant Principal of Kempsville High School since 2009.
“It’s chilling that a human being, much less a child educator, would plot to ambush and kill ICE law enforcement officers—offering such specifics as to getting a high caliber rifle that would pierce the law enforcements’ bullet proof vests. Thanks to Homeland Security Investigations and our partners, these men are behind bars,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Our officers are facing a more than 1,150% increase in assaults against them and an 8,000% increase in death threats while they risk their lives every single day to remove the worst of the worst including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, terrorists, and gang members. From bounties placed on their heads for their murders, threats to their families, stalking, and doxxing online, our officers are experiencing an unprecedented level of violence and threats against them and their families.”
Both men were charged with conspiracy to commit malicious wounding, a violation of Virginia state law and will undergo court proceedings at a later date.
“This Virginia Beach assistant principal and his brother plotted to ambush and kill ICE law enforcement officers. Our officers risk their lives daily to make our communities safer, even while facing a 1000% increase in assault and an 8000% increase in threats of murder. The sanctuary state political leaders who galvanize these violent plots MUST STOP their violent rhetoric before more lives are lost,” McLaughlin wrote in a post on the DHS X account.
CHILLING PLOT:
This Virginia Beach assistant principal and his brother plotted to ambush and kill ICE law enforcement officers.
Our officers risk their lives daily to make our communities safer, even while facing a 1000% increase in assault and an 8000% increase in threats of…
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) November 26, 2025
High school assistant principal, brother arrested in Virginia over alleged threats against ICE
– @TriciaOhio, @DHSgov is my guest
https://t.co/CRKAnBWfQ8 #FoxNews #FoxNewsLive— Mike Emanuel 🇺🇸 (@MikeEmanuelFox) November 22, 2025
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