In a startling revelation from Chicago, an unnamed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer has claimed that civilians could earn bounties ranging from $2,000 (£1,540) to $10,000 (£7,700) for killing ICE agents or reporting them to cartel authorities. The disclosure came during an interview with independent journalist Nick Shirley, who shared details of the threats facing federal officers amid heightened immigration enforcement.
ICE, tasked with enforcing federal laws on border control, customs, trade, and immigration, has seen a dramatic surge in operations since Donald Trump became president. In 2025 alone, at least 32 people died in ICE custody, marking it as the agency's deadliest year in over three decades. This year, as of February 2026, ICE has already detained over 68,000 individuals—more than the 40,000 detained throughout all of 2025.
The intensified enforcement has not come without controversy and violence. In the past two months, six people have been killed by ICE officials, with two others fatally shot. Now, new dangers are emerging for ICE personnel themselves, particularly in Chicago, where the unnamed officer described "massive bounties" placed on agents' heads.
According to the ICE insider interviewed by Shirley, civilians are being incentivized to target federal officers either through direct violence or by alerting cartel networks. The officer also revealed that ICE vehicles are being fitted with Apple AirTags, allowing their movements to be tracked in real time. Shirley's video, which included these claims, quickly went viral, showing clips of the interview and emphasizing the bounties of $2,000 to $10,000 per kill.
Chicago authorities are reportedly working to protect residents amid these escalating tensions, though specific measures were not detailed in the interview. The city's efforts come as ICE ramps up detentions nationwide, reflecting broader national debates over immigration policy and enforcement.
The release of Shirley's video prompted hundreds of reactions on social media, with many expressing outrage and concern for law enforcement safety. One user commented, "This is insane and makes me livid! 🤬 How do we live in the greatest country on Earth and our federal law enforcement officers are being tracked and have bounties out on them? Jesus Christ please keep our law enforcemnment officers safe from the evil that purses them. 🙏❤️"
