Penn State College Republicans call for action after poster threatens ICE agents

College Republicans at Penn State University are calling for university action after a poster found on campus called for the deaths of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

The poster, which shows an image of an ICE official hanging from a noose with the words “Dead ICE agents can’t kill,” was discovered Thursday on a light pole outside the student union, known as the HUB.

The club issued a statement calling for a full investigation and alleging the poster may violate not only university policy but also constitute a felony because it “constitutes a true threat to the lives of federal law enforcement officers.” 

Tristin Kilgore, president of the Penn State College Republicans, said a student who was recently active with College Democrats posted the same image on social media. 

“We spoke with the university police about it and they are now investigating,” Kilgore told The Lion in an interview Monday. “We shared with them all the information that we had, as in the person who posted it and where we found it.” 

Kilgore said he contacted College Democrats, who told him the student “is not an active member of the club and is not on any kind of leadership.” 

“This person was on their social media, was in the homecoming parade for them,” said Kilgore, a junior majoring in political science and philosophy. “So based on social media, they were involved at least until October of 2025.” 

Kilgore did not identify the student but said anti-ICE rhetoric and activity have increased in recent weeks, particularly following the deaths of two protesters in Minnesota. 

“There’s obviously been a lot of protests, but it’s really been ramping up,” he said. “Now you’re looking at downtown State College where you have these protesters who are going and blocking traffic, blocking cars and protesting.” 

He said the activity appears to involve both off-campus groups and individuals working with campus organizations. 

“You have organizations that are coming in like the People’s Defense Front, United Socialists and the Student Committee for Defense and Solidarity,” Kilgore said. “They’re having giant signs, doing demonstrations saying ‘No ICE at Penn State.’ They’re holding signs that say ‘Make racists afraid again’ and blocking traffic in the middle of the streets.” 

Libs of TikTok posted Tuesday that anti-ICE posters were found on campus outside of multiple classrooms. “Why is @penn_state encouraging this propaganda?” it asked. 

Kilgore said he plans to follow up with police and is prepared to raise the issue with university President Neeli Bendapudi if necessary. 

“We have a good relationship with her and she’s always been very supportive,” he said. “Obviously this is something where there needs to be action taken by the university against this individual and against the other people who may be posting the fliers.” 

The incident follows a case last fall at Carnegie Mellon University, where a College Democrats leader faced scrutiny after writing “Kill cops” and “Kill transphobes” during a campus event.  

Kilgore said his chapter is also working to counter misinformation about ICE. The group hosted a conference last month for student leaders from Pennsylvania and five other states to discuss issues including immigration. 

While awaiting action from the university, Kilgore said the issue is one of principle. 

“The biggest thing is that we’re looking for the university to really make a statement on this to show people that this is not acceptable,” he said. “This is not the values that we hold as Penn Staters or as Americans, and to take a stand against this. 

“You’re seeing this increasing agitation and you’re seeing the violence that’s being carried out against ICE officers, but also against conservatives on campus,” he continued, mentioning the deaths of Charlie Kirk and a College Republicans vice president at Brown University, both of whom were shot on campuses in the last five months. “We need the support of the university and of law enforcement to hold people accountable who are making these threats and potentially carrying out attacks like this.” 

A university spokesman told The Post Millennial, “Penn State condemns this and any calls for violence or attempts to frighten or intimidate. We are aware of this image circulating online, and University Police and Public Safety is investigating.”

Haley Gluhanich, an attorney with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, told The Lion the Supreme Court has protected general endorsements of violence and incitement, versus specifically imminent threats.  

“A true threat is essentially when a speaker means to communicate a serious expression of an intent to commit an act of violence against someone,” said Gluhanich, senior program counsel in FIRE’s campus department. “Basically, it’s got to be ‘I’m calling for action and that action’s got to happen right now.’ If it does not reach that standard it’s protected by the First Amendment.” 

Protected or not, the poster has drawn criticism. 

Rep. Ralph Norman, R-South Carolina, called it “the kind of depraved rhetoric that causes violence against our brave men and women in uniform daily,” he posted on X. “Enough is enough.”