A shocking claim has been making the rounds online: death threats against ICE officers have skyrocketed by 8,000 percent. That number sounds unbelievable, like something out of a movie. But is it true? According to the Department of Homeland Security, yes—it’s not just a wild internet rumor. It’s a real and growing danger, and it’s putting federal law enforcement officers at serious risk.
Let’s break it down.
ICE stands for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. These are the officers who track down and remove dangerous criminals who are in the country illegally. They also fight crimes like human trafficking, drug smuggling, and other serious offenses. But now, they’re under attack—not just from criminals, but from people openly threatening to kill them.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says death threats against ICE officers have gone up by an unbelievable 8,000 percent compared to this time last year. And it’s not just threats. Assaults on ICE officers are up by 1,000 percent. That means in just one year, the number of times ICE officers are being physically attacked has increased tenfold.
What’s behind this sudden surge? According to DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, part of the blame lies with politicians and activists who have spent years trying to turn the public against ICE. “Sanctuary politicians,” she says, have spread dangerous lies and compared ICE to Nazi secret police. That kind of talk, whether it’s meant to stir up attention or score political points, has real-life consequences—especially when it encourages people to see law enforcement officers as enemies.
And it’s not just words. There are real threats out there.
In Dallas, a Mexican national living in the U.S. illegally posted a TikTok video offering $10,000 for anyone who would kill an ICE officer. In Florida, a man using the name “Cain Delon” posted on the social media site Bluesky, telling people to “shoot the ICE Nazis down.” He even said, “Get out your guns and shoot them down.” That man has since been arrested.
In Washington state, Facebook users posted false claims that ICE was using chemical weapons and called the officers “Gestapo,” urging others to “make life hard” for agents in the town of Ferndale. And DHS shared an audio recording of a voicemail from someone saying they hoped ICE agents would be doxed “one by one.” Doxing means posting someone’s private information online to try and get them harassed or harmed.
These aren’t just idle threats. Cartels—the same violent organizations that smuggle drugs and people across the border—have been placing bounties on ICE officers’ heads. That’s right: they’re offering money to anyone who will kill a federal agent. And sadly, some people seem ready to take them up on it.
Even while facing these threats, ICE officers haven’t backed down. In fact, many are still working without pay because of the ongoing government shutdown. Despite that, they continue to arrest violent criminals, rescue children from human traffickers, and protect communities across the country.
In California, ICE agents were attacked during a mission to save migrant children from a possible trafficking ring at a marijuana farm. Two rioters were arrested for assaulting the officers. In another case, a man accused of doxing ICE agents and threatening their families was taken into custody.
This isn’t about politics. It’s about the safety of the men and women who put their lives on the line every day to enforce our laws. When people call for violence against ICE, or spread lies that make them look like monsters, they’re not standing up for justice—they’re putting lives in danger.
Federal officials are asking for help. If you see threats against ICE online, or hear someone talking about harming an agent, you can report it by calling 866-DHS-2-ICE or by submitting a tip on the ICE website.
The bottom line: the 8,000% increase in death threats isn’t fake news. It’s a serious warning about how far things have gone. ICE agents deserve protection, not persecution.