Fact Check: ICE Will Not Detain Non-Native Animals

Viral social media post claiming ICE will target animals not native to the US is false satire

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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A recent viral social media post claimed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will now detain animals that are not native to the United States. However, this claim is false and originated from a satirical parody account. ICE's enforcement activities are focused on people, not wildlife, and handling non-native animal species falls under the jurisdiction of other federal agencies like the USDA and US Fish and Wildlife Service, not ICE.

Why it matters

The viral post played on ongoing concerns about ICE's aggressive immigration enforcement tactics under the Trump administration, including raids, arrests, and detentions of undocumented immigrants. While ICE has expanded its operations, the claim about detaining non-native animals is completely fabricated and not based in reality.

The details

The original post came from the parody Twitter account @HoopsCrave, which is known for creating satirical and humorous content. The post quickly went viral, with over 280,000 views and 5,000 reactions, as people engaged with the absurd premise. However, searches of news reports, government websites, and official statements found no evidence to support the claim that ICE is targeting or detaining animals that are not native to the US. Immigration enforcement is focused on people, not wildlife, which falls under the purview of other federal agencies.

  • The viral social media post was made on February 12, 2026.

The players

ICE

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the federal law enforcement agency responsible for enforcing immigration and customs laws in the United States.

@HoopsCrave

A parody Twitter account known for creating satirical and humorous social media content.

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What they’re saying

“ICE will now detain animals that are not native to the U.S.”

— @HoopsCrave, Parody Twitter account (Twitter)

The takeaway

This viral social media post is a clear example of misinformation and satire being spread online. While ICE has been the subject of controversy for its aggressive immigration enforcement tactics, the claim that the agency will start detaining non-native animals is completely fabricated and not grounded in reality. It's important for readers to be critical of unverified claims, especially those that seem outlandish or absurd, and to fact-check information before sharing it further.