Frequently Asked Questions

No. We support lawful speech and peaceful protest. The First Amendment protects your right to criticize government policies, protest peacefully, and express your political views—even harshly.

This site documents conduct that crosses the line into criminal behavior: direct threats, doxxing (publishing private information to endanger someone), "swatting" encouragement (triggering armed police responses at someone's home), and incitement to violence.

There's a clear difference between "I think ICE policies are wrong" (protected speech) and "Here's an ICE agent's home address—someone should teach them a lesson" (potentially criminal threat).

No. You can argue policy strongly. You can call for policy changes, advocate for abolishing agencies, protest outside buildings, and organize politically—all without engaging in violent rhetoric.

The line is crossed when language becomes:

• Direct threats: "I'm going to shoot ICE agents"
• Bounties: Offering payment for violence
• Doxxing: Publishing home addresses or family information
• Swatting encouragement: Directing others to trigger armed police responses
• Incitement: Calling for specific violent acts

Vigorous policy debate is American. Targeting individuals and families for violence is not.

Yes—the underlying incidents are real. The stories on this site are based on publicly reported incidents and/or court records. We anonymize them by changing names, locations, and identifying details to protect privacy and avoid encouraging copycats.

Our documentation standards:

• Verified: Stories backed by court records, official press releases, or contemporaneous news reporting
• Anonymized: Real incidents with changed identifying details
• Composite (when labeled): Some illustrative accounts are composite vignettes clearly marked as such

Any legal allegations described are allegations unless and until proven in court.

Yes, we accept submissions. However, we apply strict standards before publishing:

• We will not publish identifying details (names, addresses, workplaces)
• We verify information against available records when possible
• We may decline stories that can't be responsibly summarized
• We never publish information that could endanger anyone

To submit a story, you can contact us through the information provided on this site.

No. WordsHaveWeight.org is a private educational project. We are not affiliated with ICE, DHS, CBP, or any federal, state, or local law enforcement agency.

We use publicly available data from government sources (such as DHS press releases and official statistics), but we are an independent organization with no government funding or oversight.

Our statistics are drawn from official sources including:

• Department of Homeland Security press releases and reports
• FBI crime statistics
• Academic research on law enforcement and violence
• Court records and Department of Justice press releases
• News reporting from established outlets

We cite our sources on the Statistics page and strive for accuracy. If you believe we've made an error, please contact us with the correction and supporting documentation.

It means that language is not just abstract—it has real-world consequences. When political figures and media influencers use dehumanizing language like "Gestapo," "Nazis," or "terrorists" to describe law enforcement officers, they create what researchers call a "permission structure" for violence.

The premise is simple: If you convince people that officers are equivalent to Nazi war criminals, then violence against them seems justified—even heroic—to radicalized individuals.

We've documented a clear correlation between periods of intense rhetorical escalation and spikes in physical attacks on officers. Words precede actions. Rhetoric shapes behavior.

Donations support the operation of this educational project:

• Site hosting and security: Keeping the site online, secure, and accessible
• Content review and moderation: Ensuring we don't publish harmful information
• Educational materials: Creating resources about de-escalation and civil discourse
• Partnerships: Supporting organizations that help affected families

We are committed to transparency and will publish periodic updates on how donations are used.

While violent rhetoric affects all law enforcement, ICE officers have faced a particularly intense and documented surge in threats and violence in recent years. Official DHS data shows increases of over 1,000% in assaults and over 8,000% in death threats against ICE personnel.

This doesn't mean other officers don't face similar challenges—they do. But the data shows that the political rhetoric around immigration enforcement has created uniquely dangerous conditions for ICE and CBP personnel and their families.

Our mission applies broadly: violent rhetoric against any law enforcement—local, state, or federal—creates the same dangerous permission structures for violence.

The pledge is a personal commitment to civil discourse. By taking the pledge, you commit to:

• Disagree without dehumanizing
• Never threaten, dox, or encourage violence against anyone
• Call out violent rhetoric even when you agree with someone's politics
• Report credible threats instead of spreading them

No signup is required. Taking the pledge is simply a personal commitment to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. You can debate immigration policy vigorously while still treating those you disagree with as human beings.