The FBI issued an internal memo in February 2026 warning that a small group of women were allegedly creating fake online dating profiles featuring a “traditional wife” or “tradwife” aesthetic to target U.S. immigration enforcement agents. According to the memo, disseminated by the FBI’s Chicago office to law enforcement agencies nationwide, the intent behind the profiles was to lure immigration officers—primarily those working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)—into interactions that would be followed by the public disclosure, or "doxing," of their personal information. The FBI described this tactic as aiming to cause embarrassment and discourage participation in immigration enforcement.

The memo did not specify which dating platforms were used or provide evidence that any agents had been successfully exposed. It also did not identify the source of the intelligence behind the report. The FBI characterized the document as a “situational information report” meant to raise awareness about the emerging doxing method but noted it did not represent finally evaluated intelligence. When asked for comment, the FBI declined to elaborate on the memo, stating it generally does not discuss intelligence briefings, but emphasized its commitment to protecting law enforcement officers from threats and violence. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not respond to requests for comment.

This advisory came shortly after a conservative media outlet published a story claiming that groups of left-leaning internet users, including women coordinated through TikTok and Facebook, had been targeting ICE agents to obtain and publicize their private images and information. That report cited a right-wing account known as Libs of TikTok and included screenshots from online groups reportedly focused on dating ICE agents to expose them. However, the article did not present interviews with participants or evidence confirming that agents had been deceived or doxed. Notably, it did not reference the use of “tradwife” imagery as described in the FBI’s memo, raising questions about the origins and accuracy of the FBI's source.

Civil liberties advocates and transparency groups have criticized the FBI’s alert. Ryan Shapiro, executive director of Property of the People—a nonprofit that obtained the memo via public records request—called the warning “absurd” and questioned the use of government resources to protect agents from potential online embarrassment. Former FBI agent and civil liberties advocate Mike German reviewed the document and noted the absence of citations and the vague nature of the intelligence. He suggested that the memo likely echoed narratives from right-wing media rather than newly verified information, describing it as an example of law enforcement internalizing a polarized “us versus them” mindset.

The issue forms part of a broader concern within U.S. law enforcement about doxing and online harassment of officials, particularly those involved in immigration enforcement. Multiple agencies have issued previous alerts about similar risks. For example, a 2025 FBI report highlighted how technology such as artificial intelligence and facial recognition could amplify doxing attacks, citing the public sharing of officers’ names, photos, and home addresses by activist groups. Other law enforcement bodies, including the Army, New York Police Department, Customs and Border Protection, and various local agencies, have also documented threats ranging from harassment to potential violence tied to public exposure.

While doxing can pose safety risks if sensitive personal information is disclosed, some critics argue ICE agents are public officials whose identities and activities are legitimately subject to scrutiny. German said, “These are agents working on the public dime. The public has a right to know who they are and what their qualifications and training are,” challenging the framing of such exposure strictly as a security threat.

The broader debate continues over where to draw the line between protecting the privacy and safety of law enforcement personnel and maintaining public transparency and accountability, particularly in contentious areas such as immigration enforcement.