Americans have started sharing videos of themselves wearing passports taped to their heads on social media. They are doing so in response to growing concerns about the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The viral videos explain that they want to show proof of their citizenship before anyone asks about it. In a video posted by content creator @dotish001 on TikTok, he is seen walking down the street with his passport taped to his head. The video has been viewed more than seven million times. In the video, he says, “This is how we move now. Before you ask me if I’m a citizen and where my passport is, you can see for yourself.”
The same creator, who says he is from Nigeria and lives in Columbus, Ohio, posted another video of himself holding his driver’s license to his head, captioned “Excuse me, Ms. ICE,” to show how people with green cards move around. Creator Yvonne Mugure, who says she lives between Phoenix, Arizona, and Nairobi, Kenya, also shared a video of herself holding her passport to her head with the caption, “This is how we move around now while living in America.” The trend began in December but has gained attention after two deadly incidents in Minneapolis, where federal agents shot and killed two people in less than three weeks. The events have sparked protests and discussions about how ICE operates.
In 2025, 32 people died in ICE custody, the highest number in two decades. The agency has also been criticized for arbitrary arrests, child detention, and racial profiling. The author, @dotish001, explained in his comments that the video was a response to situations where people are stopped and asked about their citizenship, and the idea was to “provide answers before the question is asked.”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that documents issued under the REAL ID standard verify identity, but do not indicate immigration status. Under US rules, non-citizens must carry their immigration documents with them.