Halloween might be the time for spooky costumes and harmless fun, but in Ohio, two teens took the holiday’s fright factor way too far. Instead of dressing up as ghosts or villains, they decided to impersonate ICE agents, a move that left several people terrified and the internet fuming. What might’ve been meant as a joke quickly turned into a disturbing reminder of the real fear that federal immigration enforcement evokes, especially for Hispanic communities across the country.
The incident took place at a McDonald’s in Hebron, Ohio, where a man spotted the teens dressed head-to-toe like actual ICE officers. He started recording after his sister expressed fear, believing they were the real deal. According to him, several Hispanic employees in the restaurant also appeared visibly shaken by the sight. And honestly, who could blame them? Seeing someone walk in dressed as ICE, complete with tactical gear and handcuffs, could trigger genuine panic for anyone who’s been touched by the realities of immigration raids.
The teens, however, seemed to think it was funny. The man’s TikTok video shows them smirking, laughing, and even waving at him as he recorded. When he approached their table, they doubled down, wearing masks and badges that made their impersonation look unsettlingly authentic.
Ohio Teens Spark Outrage Dressed As ICE Agents
They even admitted they’d been “chasing people earlier” and joked that they were “on break right now.” One of the girls filming them asked if what they were doing was illegal. The teens shrugged it off, saying it was probably only illegal if they actually made an arrest.
That kind of careless attitude didn’t sit well with many who saw the footage online. Pretending to be law enforcement officers isn’t just tasteless, it’s potentially a crime. And in a climate where immigration enforcement has been a deeply emotional and divisive topic, the prank struck a nerve.
To make matters worse, two officers from the Hebron Police Department reportedly took a photo with the boys while they were still dressed as ICE agents. The department even posted the picture on Facebook before quickly deleting it and issuing a statement. Critics were outraged, accusing the officers of encouraging behavior that mocked and intimidated vulnerable communities.
Netizens Aren’t Happy
Still, some commenters brushed the incident off as just a prank. Others defended the teens, insisting people were overreacting. But for many, the situation was anything but funny. As one observer put it online, dressing up as ICE isn’t the same as throwing on a cop costume for Halloween; it’s a direct reflection of a system that has caused very real fear for countless families.
“This is beyond disgusting,” one person commented. “The lack of empathy people have,” a second person pointed out. “This is honestly disgusting. I saw them while I was trick or treating, and they were getting candy,” a third person said. “Is America better yet?” a fourth comment read.
At the end of the day, the Ohio teens’ “prank” revealed more about the country’s current climate than they probably intended. Scaring people for laughs, especially when it plays on real trauma, crosses a line. And while the boys may have thought they were just getting into the Halloween spirit, they ended up proving there’s nothing funny about pretending to wield power you don’t have.
Sabrina Russell 
Kendra Quinn 
