Violent Anti-Enforcement Poster at UW–Madison Sparks Police Investigation After Depicting ICE Agent Shot in the Head
MADISON, Wisconsin — Police at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are investigating a disturbing incident after multiple violent anti-enforcement posters showing an ICE agent shot in the head were found across campus this week. Officials say the imagery and message have raised concerns about escalating hostility and potential threats against federal authorities.
Violent Poster Found on Campus Prompts Immediate Investigation
The first reports surfaced when members of the Wisconsin College Republicans shared images of the graphic sticker online. The poster depicted a figure wearing an “ICE” vest with a gunshot wound to the head, blood forming a thought bubble reading “speak their language.” Beneath the image, the message warned: “You can’t vote away fascism.”
A separate version photographed by Turning Point USA members carried an even more explicit message:
“The only good fascist is a dead one.”
University officials quickly removed the imagery.
UW–Madison spokesman John Lucas confirmed to the Madison Federalist that the stickers were taken down immediately and condemned the violent messaging.
Marc Lovicott of UW–Madison Police says the department is treating the incident as an act of graffiti vandalism and has launched a full investigation into who distributed the posters.
Student Groups Say Violent Rhetoric Has Escalated After TPUSA Founder’s Killing
The violent sticker campaign comes just weeks after the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, an incident that has intensified political tensions across campuses nationwide.
Speaking with Fox News Digital, Wisconsin College Republicans chairman Nick Jacobs said hostility toward conservative students and federal agents has increased sharply:
“It’s almost celebrated among students to write threatening things about college Republicans, about ICE agents, about Republicans.”
Jacobs said his chapter created a chalk memorial for Kirk — only for left-wing students to rewrite messages matching those found on shell casings at Kirk’s murder scene.
He believes the climate has become increasingly dangerous:
“It’s never been this bad.”
Federal Officials Warn Anti-Enforcement Threats Are Rising Nationwide
The Department of Homeland Security has previously warned that rhetoric targeting immigration enforcement personnel has increased significantly.
DHS recently linked extreme anti-ICE sentiment to an escalation in real-world violence — including the sniper attack on the ICE Dallas field office, where shell casings were left with anti-enforcement messages.
This mirrors concerns raised by conservative groups at UW–Madison about whether these posters are simply political expression or a direct call to violence.
TPUSA board member William Hong, who spotted one of the stickers on campus, told reporters:
“Taking time to draw and put these violent messages around the campus is not free speech, but a call to violence.”
Campus Officials Defend Neutrality as Investigation Continues
UW–Madison has stated it must remain viewpoint-neutral under university policy, issuing official statements only when an incident directly impacts school operations.
But some students argue the university responds differently depending on political context.
Jacobs noted that after the death of George Floyd, the school offered counseling to students, yet remained largely silent following the assassination of a conservative campus figure.
University officials insist the ongoing investigation is active and that violence of any kind is unacceptable on campus.
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