Fact Check: Was a Waikiki assault video actually an attack on an ICE agent?

WAIKIKI, HAWAII: A dramatic video that resurfaced on social media has fueled claims that an ICE agent was brutally attacked in Waikiki, Hawaii, amid heightened tensions over immigration enforcement. The clip quickly spread across platforms, prompting heated reactions from both supporters and critics of ICE. But does the footage actually show a federal immigration officer being assaulted? Let's fact-check the claim.

Claim: Viral video shows an ICE agent being attacked in Waikiki

An X post by @MustangMan_TX shared a video claiming to show an ICE officer being attacked by what the user described as "psychotic animals." The post identified the victim as an ICE agent and criticized the group involved in the assault.

The X post shared the video along with the caption saying, "BEYOND DISGUSTING!!! What’s the psychotic animals attacked and literally beat this ICE officer! I can’t tell you how sick this makes me! I hope and pray that they identify each of those animals and lock them away for a very long time!"

The 56-second video, filmed at night on a Waikiki street lined with palm trees and traffic lights, showed a group confronting a bald man wearing a tactical vest labeled "ICE," a cap, and light-colored clothing. 

During the confrontation, someone threw liquid at the man before several people dragged him to the ground. The group then repeatedly punched and kicked him as bystanders watched and recorded the incident.

Toward the end of the video, the injured man stood up with blood visible on his face and walked away as the crowd dispersed. Vehicles passed through the area while the shaky handheld footage came to an end.

Fact Check: False, the video is misrepresented

The claim is false. The man shown in the video was not a real ICE officer. He was a 52-year-old Honolulu resident who wore a tactical vest marked "ICE" while impersonating a federal immigration agent.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that he had no connection to or affiliation with the agency.

The assault took place on March 28, 2026, in Waikiki during a period of public demonstrations. According to authorities, the man was known locally for wearing fake ICE gear and confronting people.

Honolulu police investigated the assault and arrested a 15-year-old boy on suspicion of assault.

Authorities also said the impersonator could face federal charges for pretending to be an ICE officer. No actual ICE agents were involved in or injured during the incident.

The viral post falsely identified the victim as a real ICE officer while recirculating old footage without its original context.