DHS Issues 'Be on the Lookout' Alert for Comedian Ben Palmer Over Parody ICE Tip Website

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) circulated a 'Be on the Lookout' (Bolo) alert nationwide targeting comedian Ben Palmer, who created a satirical website impersonating an immigration tip line. The Nashville-based standup's videos of prank calls, where members of the public believed they were reporting immigrants to ICE, went viral on TikTok and YouTube. The February alert, issued by DHS's Nashville field office, was shared by Illinois state police to state and local agencies. It noted Palmer 'operates a satirical website impersonating a submission form' but acknowledged 'no direct threat to life or infrastructure.' The DHS spokesperson called it an 'internal memo shared for awareness purposes only.' Palmer, who learned of the alert from Injustice Watch, called it a 'badge of honor.' Retired ICE official Darius Reeves called the Bolo 'unusual.' The ACLU's Esha Bhandari saw it as part of a pattern targeting critics. Palmer is not the first comedian targeted under the Trump administration; earlier, Rob Potylo was detained in a giraffe costume, and Jake Flores had DHS agents visit his home in 2018.