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EXCLUSIVE TO FOX NEWS: A 23-year-old undocumented immigrant was taken into custody in Texas on Tuesday after allegedly offering $10,000 via TikTok for the assassination of ICE agents. The arrest occurred while he was reportedly in possession of a loaded firearm, Fox News Digital reports.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has charged Eduardo Aguilar, a Dallas resident, with making a threat through interstate or foreign communications.
The allegations stem from an October 9 TikTok post in which Aguilar, writing in Spanish, solicited “10 determined individuals in Dallas unafraid to [represented by two skull emojis].” He purportedly promised $10,000 for each Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent harmed.
Officials have clarified that the skull emojis are commonly interpreted to mean “die.”
The emoji are known to represent the word, “die,” according to officials.
At the time of his arrest, officials said Aguilar had a loaded 9 mm handgun in his vehicle, a felony in the U.S.
DHS officials said Aguilar entered the country illegally in 2018 as an unaccompanied minor.
On Feb. 8, 2019, an immigration judge issued him a final order of removal.
A screengrab of the TikTok video showed two skull emojis, known to represent death. (DHS)
His criminal history in the U.S. includes charges of violating liquor laws, according to DHS.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the shocking social media threat could have cost American lives.
“Thanks to the quick work of law enforcement, this illegal alien who was offering $10,000 cash bounties for the murder of ICE law enforcement is in custody and facing federal charges,” McLaughlin said. “We are thankful this illegal alien who had a firearm in his possession was arrested before he could kill one of our law enforcement officers.”
Federal authorities made the arrest in Dallas, according to DHS. (Matt Nager/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
She noted agents are facing ambushes, terrorist attacks and death threats “all because they dare to enforce the laws passed by Congress.”
“We will not back down from these threats, and every criminal, terrorist and illegal alien will face American justice,” McLaughlin said.
Aguilar made his initial appearance Wednesday in front of a U.S. magistrate judge in Dallas who ordered that he remain detained in federal custody, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas.
If convicted, he faces a maximum of five years in federal prison.
TikTok did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
