As incidents involving immigration agents rise to unprecedented levels, a group of left-leaning TikTok users is forming an initiative to monitor ICE agents’ personal images. Their goal appears to be, intentionally or not, keeping these agents unaware of their activities.
A woman from Massachusetts claims she’s helped assemble a group that utilizes Tinder to ensnare unwitting ICE officials, aiming to publish sensitive information online. “I’m part of a group of roughly 20 women in Massachusetts involved in this,” user Pretty Liltan shared on TikTok. “We also have a private Facebook group with around 1,000 members; some go on the dates while others conduct background checks and dig up details.”
Similar campaigns were seen in North Carolina during a significant ICE operation dubbed Charlotte’s Web last November. In one popular TikTok, a user named healthpolicyprincess urged her fellow Tinder users in North Carolina to collect screenshots of profiles they believed to belong to ICE agents for a “folder” she intended to make public.
A woman in Minneapolis also recently called for gay users to identify suspected ICE agents on Grindr. “I’m curious if any of my friends here are using Grindr, especially with all the buzz lately among visitors,” the user, Nina, said in a video. “Share those risky photos and selfies far and wide!” she encouraged.
Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, condemned this collection of identities, stating that those participating would face legal consequences. “This behavior amounts to a felony,” she emphasized, highlighting the perilous situation that comes from leaking personal details about law enforcement officials and their families. “Our officers are actively working to arrest individuals involved in serious crimes.”
Meanwhile, some social media users, fueled by fears of encountering ICE agents, have been discussing whether to abandon dating apps entirely. A woman in New York, for instance, warned others on Bumble about the potential presence of ICE officials on the platform, declaring, “There are some wild ICE agents on these apps; you should really get off!”
Another viral post claimed that some ICE agents were using dating apps to “kidnap” attractive women. One user dramatically alleged that agents on Tinder had ulterior motives, leading to increased anxiety among app users.
The issue is not trivial; reports indicate that assaults on ICE officers have surged by 1,300%, threats directed at them have increased by 8,000%, and assaults involving vehicles are up by 3,200%. “Their families face threats, yet we will not relent,” McLaughlin stated.
The Department of Justice has also indicted three women from Southern California and Colorado, who were reportedly live-streaming and disclosing the identities of DHS employees, urging followers to “come over to your agent’s house.”
