US Government Spied on Leftwing Groups Opposing Immigration Crackdown

DHS Spied on Leftwing Organizations: Records Reveal

Disclosed records unveil that the US government extensively monitored leftwing entities protesting the immigration crackdown in Minnesota. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) deployed undercover agents to community meetings in Twin Cities and New York City, infiltrated Signal chats, and gained access to financial data of mainstream unions and left-leaning non-profits.

Close to 30 law enforcement reports were made public as the Department of Justice filed a case against Minneapolis protesters. The defendants stand accused of conspiring to impede US immigration officers during the Trump administration’s intensification in the region.

The investigation, “Operation Puppet Master”, launched by DHS focused on identifying a “network of conspirators” opposing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This operation was initiated as the community’s organizing against ICE surged following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

DHS agents targeted activists, protesters, and progressive organizations opposing the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Kevin Riach, a defense attorney, expressed shock at the scope of the investigation but was not entirely surprised.

Investigations followed Trump’s executive order designating “antifa” a “domestic terrorist organization” responsible for “riots” against ICE. This led to the criminal case filed against 15 protesters, pointing at Direct Action Minnesota as part of a “conspiracy” opposing ICE’s surge.

Organizations connected to the conspiracy included national labor unions AFL-CIO and Service Employees International Union; local unions Minneapolis Federation of Educators and the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees; and large left-leaning groups, including Democratic Socialists of America and Showing Up for Racial Justice. However, none of these have been criminally charged.

These revelations have intensified concerns of civil rights groups, accusing the federal government of criminalizing lawful protest activity while ostensibly targeting leftwing “terrorism”.

DHS obtained financial records of unions and non-profits for an inquiry into “domestic terrorist financing”. Investigators requested financial data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and also obtained records related to the Sunrise Movement.

Undercover agents posed as activists and surveilled community activities. The agents joined Signal groups of activists involved in protests and even attended a Sunrise Movement “resistance skills training” at the Minneapolis public library.

The records relate to activities far beyond the allegations of the 15 defendants facing prosecution, with no allegations of injuries to specific ICE officers caused by any defendants and no charges of serious violence.

Mike German, a former FBI agent and civil liberties advocate, noted the unusual leading role of DHS instead of the FBI in these investigations. He also highlighted the investigations’ focus on “guilt by association” rather than on specific alleged criminal activity.