Federal officials confirmed that the Customs and Border Protection officer who has become known as “Ice Bae” is employed by the agency while saying she can continue using social media.
The woman identified herself as Kiara Cervantes and popped up on Twitter after a picture showing her standing next to Vice President Mike Pence during Pence’s visit to a Texas detention facility on July 12.
“Soooo it’s crazy…. but here I am. I’m hearing something about a viral picture. I would like to say i was just doing my job.. providing security for the visit of @VP . It was an honor and I take a lot of pride in my job!” she wrote in her first tweet on July 15.
“WOW I am in awe. Thank you all for the support! My job is so hectic at this moment but I am grateful. I love protecting my country! And I love my supporters!” she later added.
Soooo it’s crazy…. but here I am. I’m hearing something about a viral picture. I would like to say i was just doing my job.. providing security for the visit of @VP
. It was an honor and I take a lot of pride in my job!— Kiara C (@kiarace24) July 15, 2019
WOW I am in awe. Thank you all for the support! My job is so hectic at this moment but I am grateful. I love protecting my country! ????????????????❤ And I love my supporters!
— Kiara C (@kiarace24) July 16, 2019
The agency, known as CBP, confirmed to the New York Post in an email that Cervantes is an officer and that it will not restrict her use of Twitter or other social media websites.
“CBP does not restrict employees from participating in social media for personal use,” said a CBP official. “As we have previously said, CBP employees are held to the highest expectation of conduct, both on and off duty and must adhere to CBP’s standards of conduct.”
Cervantes posted a selfie of herself posing in a CBP uniform but later took it down, and also removed a video in which she told supporters more about herself.
Okay not gonna lie politics aside you gotta admit #IceBae is hot pic.twitter.com/poLkV58vgo
— Ike (@iket72183) July 15, 2019
She posted two new videos early Wednesday, explaining why she joined Twitter.
“First and foremost, thank you. Thank you to everyone who’s supporting me,” Cervantes said. “I kind of just want something positive to come out of this, if anything. I want to reach out to younger women to show them—to work hard, to get an education…to be kind, to be humble. Because all of that goes a long way.”
“Good things happen to good people…I’m a very respectful person, I’m a very kind person. I don’t let the negativity get to me — even in this day and age with social media, it’s crazy. You have people attacking you from everywhere. And somehow, still…it doesn’t phase me,” she added.
I’m so bad at Twitter ???? part two! Shoutout @VibeHi pic.twitter.com/bY1qkXcali
— Kiara C (@kiarace24) July 17, 2019
According to the Post, Cervantes is 26 years old and a registered Democrat. Voter registration records show she didn’t vote in the 2016 election but did participate in the 2014 midterms.
Cervantes has received lots of praise but has also received criticism, including some who accused her of shaming her parents with her job.
“I think that’s really rude and naive of you to say,” she said in a missive she later deleted. “You have no idea who my parents are and no idea what goes into my job on a daily basis… before speaking on something you know nothing about…. DONT. Regardless I’m blessed and thankful for the career I have.”
