A group of young social media users may have placed themselves in serious legal danger after posting a chilling video on TikTok that appeared to threaten federal immigration officers, prompting an aggressive response from the Department of Homeland Security.

The brief video, uploaded earlier this week, featured several individuals who appeared to be teenagers or young adults. Set to loud rap music, the clip shows one masked young man stepping forward, lowering his face covering, and smirking directly at the camera as others stand silently behind him.

Text flashes across the screen with a direct message aimed at Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers: “ICE, we’re on the way. Word in the streets cartels put a $50K bounty on y’all.”

The account that shared the video, reportedly linked to a user in Florida, was deleted shortly after the post began circulating. However, it did not disappear before catching the attention of federal authorities.

On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security publicly addressed the video, sharing it online and issuing a sharply worded warning.

“FAFO,” the agency wrote, using shorthand for “fool around and find out.” “If you threaten or lay hands on our law enforcement officers, we will hunt you down — and you will find out very quickly. We’ll see you soon.”

Officials made clear they are not dismissing the video as a prank or attention-seeking stunt. Instead, they say it surfaced during a period of heightened concern over credible reports that criminal organizations are actively encouraging attacks on ICE agents through financial incentives.

According to reporting cited by federal officials, the Department of Homeland Security has confirmed the existence of an organized bounty system allegedly linked to criminal groups. Under that system, payments reportedly range from a few thousand dollars for identifying or doxxing ICE personnel to much larger sums for violent acts. Rewards of up to $50,000 have allegedly been offered for the killing of senior immigration officers.

Similar intelligence has been documented by other federal agencies. The Washington Examiner reported that the Drug Enforcement Administration uncovered evidence of gang activity targeting ICE agents in parts of Chicago. According to the DEA, gang members in neighborhoods such as Pilsen and Little Village have positioned armed lookouts on rooftops to monitor law enforcement activity.

Those spotters reportedly communicate using radios and coordinate movements in real time, raising alarms about the potential for ambush-style attacks.

The alarming trend follows a recent and closely related case in Texas that underscores how online rhetoric can escalate into real-world threats.

Earlier this year, federal authorities arrested Eduardo Aguilar, a Mexican national living illegally in Dallas, after he allegedly used TikTok to solicit the murder of ICE agents. In a post written in Spanish, Aguilar called for “10 guys in Dallas with determination” and offered $10,000 for each immigration officer killed. The message circulated online for several days before investigators identified and located him.

When Aguilar was taken into custody, agents discovered a loaded 9mm handgun inside his vehicle. Because federal law prohibits illegal aliens from possessing firearms, the discovery added a serious felony charge to the case.

Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin credited law enforcement with acting swiftly to prevent potential violence. She said the arrest highlights how digital threats against officers can quickly cross the line from speech to imminent danger.

“ICE officers face ambushes, terrorist-style attacks, and constant death threats simply for enforcing the laws passed by Congress,” McLaughlin said. “This arrest likely prevented a tragedy and sends a clear message that intimidation will not work.”

Aguilar’s immigration history further illustrates systemic enforcement failures. He entered the United States illegally in 2018 as an unaccompanied minor and was ordered removed by an immigration judge in early 2019. Despite that order, he remained in the country for years and accumulated a criminal record before finally being arrested.

Federal officials now warn that social media platforms are increasingly being used to amplify threats, recruit sympathizers, and spread intimidation campaigns against law enforcement. They stress that even posts meant to provoke or gain attention can result in life-altering consequences.

“This is not a joke, and it’s not a game,” one DHS official said. “Threatening federal officers — whether online or in person — will bring swift action. We will identify you, and you will be held accountable.”

As investigations continue, authorities are urging the public to take such threats seriously and report any suspicious online activity involving calls for violence against law enforcement.