Court Filings: ICE Surveillance Operation Targets Activists

Court documents reviewed by WIRED reveal that Immigration and Customs Enforcement built a surveillance network to monitor left-wing activists and community organizers. The evidence emerged from a federal conspiracy case involving 15 Minnesota residents. Prosecutors accuse these individuals of plotting to obstruct immigration enforcement.

The investigation centers on two operations: Project Whipple Shield and Operation Puppet Master. Both operate under National Security Presidential Memorandum 7. This directive issued after the assassination of Charlie Kirk. It authorizes federal agencies to investigate groups accused of advancing political violence or hostile ideologies.

Defense attorneys describe the Minnesota prosecution as an effort to criminalize criticism of President Donald Trump's immigration policies. Attorney Kevin Riach labeled the tactics the new COINTELPRO. He warned that ICE functions as a domestic intelligence agency targeting political opponents. This mirrors the FBI's historical campaign against civil rights and anti-war movements.

The scope of the operation includes approximately 120 Homeland Security Investigations agents. Eleven of these operatives worked undercover. They attended activist meetings, marches, and training sessions in cities including Chicago, Seattle, and New York. Investigators also deployed drones and accessed commercial databases for personal and financial information.

During Operation Metro Surge in December, activists created encrypted messaging groups and dispatch systems. They used these tools to track federal agents and alert local communities. Prosecutors claim these actions constituted a conspiracy to stalk agents and commit assaults. Defense lawyers argue the charges vastly exceed the alleged conduct.

Spencer Reynolds, a former Department of Homeland Security attorney, told WIRED the operation likely extends beyond Minnesota. He noted the surveillance apparatus operates alongside nationwide immigration raids. Mike German, a retired FBI agent, stated that combining communications, financial, and personal data makes modern investigations more sweeping than previous methods.

The filings raise questions about how a unit designed to combat terrorism accessed journalists' phone records. The case now tests how far the federal government can investigate Americans engaged in political protest.