Texas authorities have arrested a Dallas man accused of using TikTok to incite violence against agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), raising growing concerns about the use of social media platforms to promote violent behavior.
According to an official statement published on the Department of Homeland Security’s website (DHS.gov), the suspect, Eduardo Aguilar, 23, was charged federally with issuing online threats and offering money in exchange for acts of violence. Authorities confirmed that Aguilar was in the United States illegally, having entered from Mexico.
The investigation began when Dallas police alerted the FBI about a TikTok video posted on October 9, showing an image of the city along with a Spanish caption recruiting “10 men unafraid to kill,” accompanied by two skull emojis. The video also offered $10,000 for each ICE agent killed.
TikTok Case Exposes Rising Threat of Online Violence Recruitment in the U.S.
Federal investigators successfully traced the account behind the video to Aguilar, who was detained and appeared in federal court on Wednesday. If convicted, he faces up to five years in federal prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson emphasized that threats against law enforcement are “completely unacceptable,” affirming that anyone who endangers federal agents or offers bounties for their harm will face prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.
This case highlights the growing challenge of monitoring violent content on digital platforms, especially as online hate speech and extremist messaging rise amid heightened immigration enforcement under former President Donald Trump’s administration.
Authorities continue to warn that social media platforms like TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) are increasingly exploited by individuals and groups seeking to incite violence or recruit participants for criminal acts.