TikTok Users Are Sending Warnings Of ICE Sightings Through Videos With Coded Words: 'Cute Winter Boots'

TikTok users are employing coded language to share warnings about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity, using phrases such as "cute winter boots" and "it's getting slippery" to evade potential censorship and spread information about deportation raids, including locations that are being targeted across the country.

In that context, users are recommending "cute winter boots" and keeping safe from "ice," with "boots" translating to protest and pushback against the Trump administration. The hashtag #cutewinterboots is also being used to discuss the flurry of Executive Orders passed by Trump in his first days in office.

The trend has gained traction over the past few days as the Trump administration intensifies immigration enforcement, directing ICE officials to significantly increase daily arrests to a goal of 1,200 to 1,500.

This viral tactic is commonly known as "algospeak" which is a form of coded language to navigate platform moderation, according to specialized tech site Fast Company. Social media users often substitute sensitive words with harmless alternatives to avoid algorithmic suppression. As the site points out:

"The "cute winter boots" trend also exploits the platform's algorithm, which favors product-focused content, to maximize visibility. Creators often pair their videos with unrelated but highly searchable pop-culture keywords, such as "Taylor Swift" and "Sabrina Carpenter," to further boost their reach. Some of these videos also link to TikTok Shop, but instead of boots, they offer educational items like Night by Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust memoir, or gear useful for protests, such as protective equipment"

Besides "cute winter boots", users are also posting messages such as "It's getting slippery out there" or references to "ICE cream trucks" to discreetly indicate the presence of immigration enforcement agents. Some creators provide guidance on legal rights or direct viewers to external resources, including a map called "People Over Papers," which compiles unverified reports of ICE sightings.

While the effectiveness of these TikTok warnings remains uncertain, their visibility has drawn attention beyond immigrant communities as some Trump supporters have attempted to expose the meaning behind "cute winter boots," posting response videos interpreting the phrase as an attempt to obstruct law enforcement:

ICE did postpone an immigration crackdown operation in Aurora, Colorado, on Thursday, claiming knowledge of the effort had spread throughout the community and agents could be affected.

The agency temporarily called off the operation due to media leaks, NBC reported, citing two sources familiar with the matter. They said the leaks could have put the agents in the operation at risk.