Exposing ICE: The Rise of the ICE List Project

The ICE List project, initiated by Dominick Skinner, an Irish national based in the Netherlands, aims to expose U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents by publishing their names, positions, and occasionally photos. This initiative emerged as a response to a warning from Kristi Noem, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, who threatened legal action against individuals identifying ICE agents. The project has gained significant traction, mobilizing hundreds of volunteers and accumulating millions of views.

The Guardian

The ICE List was conceived in June 2025, following Noem's remarks that Americans could face arrest for publicly identifying ICE agents. Skinner's retort on social media led to a rapid organization of efforts to compile information about these agents. The website operates as a crowdsourced platform, utilizing a network of approximately 500 volunteers who sift through public tips and data to identify ICE personnel involved in the Trump administration's stringent immigration policies.

The Guardian

The project relies on publicly available information, with Skinner stating that over 90% of the identified agents have been traced through data they themselves have shared, such as LinkedIn profiles. The site has documented more than 1,500 individuals, with only five listings removed due to inaccuracies or departures from the agency. Skinner emphasizes that the initiative is in the public interest, countering claims from Noem that identifying ICE agents constitutes a crime.

The Guardian

In response to the ICE List, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has defended the anonymity of its agents, citing a purported increase in violence against them. However, Skinner has expressed skepticism regarding these claims, suggesting that the agents' true fear lies in social ostracism rather than physical safety. He argues that the project seeks to create a public awareness similar to that of the 1920s Chicago, where the identification of Ku Klux Klan members led to their social exclusion.

The Guardian

Critics of the ICE List, including government officials, argue that the project could endanger the safety of ICE agents and their families. Noem's statements reflect concerns that public identification may incite violence against these individuals. Despite this, Skinner maintains that the initiative is a necessary reaction to what he describes as a "problematic regime," aiming to foster accountability and transparency in federal immigration enforcement.

The Guardian

“What they’re fearful of is not being invited to baseball games or not being invited to the pub with their friends.” — Dominick Skinner, Founder of ICE List

The Guardian

“Over 90% of the people we have, we’ve identified through information they themselves have made public,” — Dominick Skinner, Founder of ICE List

The Guardian

“There were no attacks on members of the KKK, it was a boycott of them in public life,” — Dominick Skinner, Founder of ICE List

The Guardian

As the ICE List continues to grow, it remains to be seen how the U.S. government will respond to this grassroots initiative. The ongoing debate surrounding ICE's operational transparency and the safety of its agents is likely to intensify, particularly as public sentiment regarding immigration enforcement evolves.

The Guardian