The 'ICE Bae' meme originated in July 2019 after a photo of U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer Kiara Cervante went viral during Vice President Mike Pence's visit to a border facility in McAllen, Texas. Social media users quickly dubbed her 'ICE Bae' due to her appearance, causing the image to trend across Twitter and Instagram. The meme sparked significant debate, contrasting the 'thirst trap' nature of the viral fame with the serious political context of the detention centers. Today, the template is used to satirize viral fame, unexpected media attention, or to comment on the juxtaposition of aesthetics and controversial professional environments.