Thinking of threatening ICE officers? Don’t do it.

The arrest of a Florida man who made online death threats against ICE officers should be a wake-up call to every American. Free speech is sacred, but threats and incitements to violence are not speech — they are crimes.

This man’s action was not one of courage. It was weakness hiding behind a screen, pretending to be strength.

The suspect in this crime — who is innocent until proven guilty — allegedly posed online as clean cut, polished, and put together. In reality, he is anything but. That staged image was a mask for anger and resentment — a desperate attempt to look powerful while attacking those who actually serve their country.

He is alleged to have posted the following threats and incitements to violence against ICE agents:

• “Shoot the ICE Nazis down like the rabid dogs they are”
• “Just get a gun and shoot the ICE Nazis down”
• “Start by shooting ice thugs dead”
• “Shoot those ice thugs dead”
• “Shoot the ICE agents down.”
• “They come near me, and I shoot to kill. Be warned”
• “Shoot these thugs dead”
• “Get out your guns and shoot them down”
• “Shoot ICE Gestapo dead”

That is not bravery. It is moral failure.

Florida takes the safety of our law enforcement seriously. We have strengthened penalties for assaulting officers, expanded protections for their families, and made it clear that threats made online or in-person will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. When you attack an officer, you attack the rule of law itself, and in our state we defend both.

The men and women of law enforcement are not political figures. They are public servants following orders, enforcing the laws passed by the representatives of the people. You may disagree with policy, but that is resolved through the democratic process, not by threatening those sworn to carry it out. You are always welcome to make your voice heard at the ballot box, but you must also respect that the overwhelming majority of this nation has voted for accountability, security, and order.

I stand with law enforcement, and so do my colleagues in the Florida Legislature. The majority of Floridians know that our safety depends on those willing to wear the badge, face danger, and uphold the law with integrity. They deserve honor and support, not cheap politics from those who follow trends instead of principles.

Across the country, too many politicians have joined the crowd that criticizes law enforcement to stay relevant. They are weak followers, not leaders. They talk about justice while mocking the people who make it possible. That is a betrayal of public trust.

We need to raise our communities better. We need to raise our children to respect sacrifice, to know that real strength is found in service, not in hate. The measure of a society is how it treats the men and women who protect it.

Florida leads by example. We protect our officers, we enforce our laws, and we stand proudly with those who protect us. Respect for law enforcement is not a slogan here. It is our standard and our shared duty as citizens.

It is an honor to serve as a public official in a state that values courage, duty, and respect. The men and women who wear the badge, and their families who carry that weight beside them, deserve the gratitude of every Floridian and every American. I ask all who hear these words, from our state and beyond, to take a moment to thank a member of law enforcement when you see one. They are not strangers. They are our neighbors, our protectors, and our first line of defense. Together, as one nation that believes in justice and service, we will lead better.

Fabián Basabe, a Republican, serves in the Florida state House of Representatives representing the 106th district in Miami-Dade County.