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A Texas prosecutor with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is behind a white supremacist social media account, according to a report.
An account on Elon Musk’s X platform with the handle @GlomarResponder, which has since locked its posts from public view, has been linked to the ICE employee spouting “blatantly racist and anti-immigrant views,” the Texas Observer reports.
The newspaper extensively reviewed posts by the account since 2012 and, through federal court records, courtroom visits and background interviews, claims that it belongs to 44-year-old James “Jim” Joseph Rodden, an assistant chief counsel for ICE in Dallas.
Rodden’s role is representing ICE in court hearings where judges rule on deportations, according to the Observer.
One post allegedly posted by Rodden includes one from January 2025. “America is a White nation, founded by Whites. We are the historical and majority population, and it was founded for our benefit. Our country should favor us,” it read.
Another post by the account in January said: “My WWII vet grandfather didn’t get a chance to kill asians, so he volunteered for Korea. He’d be asking for a short term job with ICE kicking doors and swinging a baton.”
In September 2024, the account posted that “all blacks are foreign to my people.”
The Independent has contacted ICE for further comment.
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In March 2024, another suspected read: “Nobody is proposing feeding migrants into tree shredders. Yet. Give it a few more weeks at this level of invasion, and that will be the moderate position.”
The account also posted that “migrants all are all criminals” in August 2024. The posts are no longer public but the newspaper has archived them.
Rodden did not respond to the Observer’s attempts to contact him and when a request for comment was made in person in a public courthouse hallway, the prosecutor referred them to his press office.
“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will not comment on the substance of this article pending further investigation, to include whether the owner of the referenced ‘X’ account is a current employee,” an ICE spokesperson said in a statement to the newspaper. “Notwithstanding, ICE holds its employees to the highest standards of professionalism and takes seriously all allegations of inappropriate conduct.”
Rodden is a former U.S. Border Patrol agent and U.S. Marine Corps armorer, according to his LinkedIn profile. The Marine Corps confirmed his service and final rank of corporal to the Observer.
The newspaper matched Rodden to the GlomarResponder account by linking biographical details it mentioned. The information posted by the anonymous account aligned with Rodden’s social media profiles, public records, court hearings and other investigative methods, the outlet claims.
During a court hearing where Rodden was working, the journalist who wrote the Observer report noted him “repeatedly” using his phone “at moments that corresponded to times GlomarResponder made posts.”
A New York-based immigration attorney raised questions over Rodden’s capacity to act fairly and impartially in legal proceedings given his alleged views.
“A government lawyer who vilifies people that he opposes in court, and puts that out under the radar, would clearly be engaging in conduct that’s prejudicial to the administration of justice,” Cyrus Mehta told the outlet.
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Felecia Phillips Ollie DD (h.c.) is the inspiring leader and founder of The Equality Network LLC (TEN). With a background in coaching, travel, and a career in news, Felecia brings a unique perspective to promoting diversity and inclusion. Holding a Bachelor’s Degree in English/Communications, she is passionate about creating a more inclusive future. From graduating from Mississippi Valley State University to leading initiatives like the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program, Felecia is dedicated to making a positive impact. Join her journey on our blog as she shares insights and leads the charge for equity through The Equality Network.