Violent anti-ICE imagery depicting a federal agent with a bullet through his head has appeared at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Story Snapshot
- Graphic imagery shows ICE agent with bullet in head and phrase “Speak their language”
- UW-Madison police investigating the threatening display amid campus safety concerns
- Incident follows March student walkouts protesting ICE detention of former graduate student
- University struggles to balance free speech rights with protecting federal law enforcement
Threatening Display Sparks Campus Investigation
University of Wisconsin-Madison police confirmed May 2, 2025, they are investigating disturbing anti-ICE imagery that appeared on campus depicting a federal immigration agent with a bullet wound to the head. The graphic display included the phrase “Speak their language,” suggesting violence as a means of communication with federal law enforcement. University officials expressed concern about the escalation from typical protest messaging to imagery that appears to threaten violence against ICE personnel who are simply doing their jobs enforcing immigration law.
Graphic anti-ICE imagery at University of Wisconsin shows agent with bullet in head: 'Speak their language' https://t.co/LuWCbEtFxi
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 14, 2025
Pattern of Escalating Campus Radicalism
The threatening imagery follows months of anti-ICE activism at UW-Madison that began with March 2025 student walkouts protesting the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent resident and former graduate student. Student groups have demanded the university shield undocumented and immigrant students from federal immigration enforcement, essentially asking the institution to obstruct justice and undermine the rule of law. The Daily Cardinal published editorials calling for protection of pro-Palestine students from deportation, highlighting how immigration activism has merged with other radical causes on campus.
This progression from protests to violent imagery demonstrates how unchecked campus radicalism can spiral into dangerous territory. What began as student walkouts has devolved into displays that could reasonably be interpreted as threats against federal law enforcement officers.
Watch: Columbia Uni Students BLOCK Campus Steps during Walkout Protest for Mahmoud Khalil
University’s Weak Response Enables Extremism
University officials released a tepid statement claiming commitment to both free speech and campus safety while condemning threats of violence. However, this measured response fails to adequately address the serious nature of imagery that depicts violence against federal agents. Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin and campus administrators find themselves caught between appeasing radical student groups and fulfilling their obligation to maintain a safe environment that doesn’t threaten law enforcement personnel.
The investigation continues with no arrests reported, demonstrating the university’s reluctance to take decisive action against those promoting violence against ICE agents. Student activists have attempted to downplay their rhetoric by claiming they don’t advocate violence, yet their imagery speaks louder than their words. This incident exemplifies how liberal academic institutions have become breeding grounds for anti-law enforcement sentiment that undermines respect for federal authority and the officers who risk their lives protecting American communities from criminal aliens.
Sources:
Student Activism at UW-Madison
A Brief History of UW-Madison Student Activism
Hundreds of UW Students Stage Walkout in Protest of ICE’s Detainment of Mahmoud Khalil
Graphic anti-ICE imagery at University of Wisconsin shows agent bullet in head: ‘Speak their language’
