ICE deletes post that says they stop 'illegal ideas' at the border

In a post earlier this week, the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) appeared to claim that DHS wanted to stop illegal immigrants, money, products, and "ideas" from coming over the border. The post was later deleted and DHS said that it was made in error.

In a post with a graphic, ICE said, "If it crosses the US border illegally, it's our job to stop it," and then listed "people, money, products, ideas."


According to Newsweek, when the outlet reached out to DHS, assistant secretary for public affairs Tricia McLaughlin said the post was made in error. "That post was sent without proper approval and should not have been shared. 'Ideas' should have said 'intellectual property.'"

The post comes as the Trump administration has been making a greater effort to crack down on illegal immigration. The post was shared on Instagram as well as X and talked about how DHS will use "400+ federal laws to ensure public safety and national security" for the United States.

Democratic lawmakers seized the post, with Democrats in the Senate posting to X, "Donald Trump, Kristi Noem, and ICE just made a huge confession. They openly shared that they’re deeming certain *ideas* 'illegal.' Luckily, the Internet is forever."

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) wrote in response to the post from ICE, "ICE now policing 'ideas' that 'cross the border illegally.'

ICE spokesman Mike Alvarez said of the incident, "We regret any confusion that this error may have caused. Our number one goal is to provide accurate information to the public."