- Federal agencies conducted extensive undercover surveillance on Twin Cities community groups, churches, and labor unions in twenty twenty-six.
- Investigators used operations Puppet Master and Whipple Shield to monitor encrypted communications and financial records.
- Defense attorneys claim agents built agency-wide dossiers on individuals exercising their First Amendment rights during immigration protests.
Federal records describe a broad Minnesota surveillance effort targeting anti-ICE protesters and left-leaning organizations during the immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities.
DHS and ICE agents attended community meetings undercover, monitored encrypted chats and sought financial records from unions and nonprofits. Investigators also tracked a “No Kings” protest in late March.
The operation began in January under the name “Operation Puppet Master.” Federal filings used “Project Whipple Shield” for two undercover surveillance efforts.
The records do not say that any of the named organizations face charges. The documents instead identify them as groups drawn into an investigation connected to a criminal case against 15 protesters.
Undercover agents entered meetings across Minneapolis
Agents attended meetings at churches, libraries, parks, schools and union halls, according to the records. Their activity included a Sunrise Movement training at the Minneapolis public library on January 31 and a gathering at University Baptist Church on May 28.
One internal record described an agent’s report on a beginner boxing session at the church. The session was hosted by an “anti-racist, queer friendly” martial arts group.
Investigators also examined people they said were “providing material support to violent opportunists and agitators.” Another DHS report referred to a “network of conspirators” organizing against ICE.
The records identify AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union, the Minneapolis Federation of Educators, the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, the Democratic Socialists of America, Showing Up for Racial Justice, Sunrise Movement, Voices for Racial Justice, Minnesota ICE Watch and Direct Action Minnesota.
Financial inquiries reached unions and nonprofits
The surveillance expanded beyond meetings and demonstrations. Investigators obtained wire-transfer information from SEIU and data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York about the Communications Workers of America.
The records also describe subpoenas for financial information held by unions and nonprofit organizations. That activity placed institutional finances alongside protest attendance and online communications in the investigation.
No charges have been filed against the organizations named in the documents.
Defense attorney says agents built agency-wide dossiers
Kevin Riach, a defense attorney in the federal case, said agents recorded conversations involving people exercising their constitutional rights.
“These agents surreptitiously recorded dozens of conversations with ordinary people who were simply exercising their First Amendment right to protest ICE’s lawless rampage in our state,”
Riach also said the agents “created dossiers that are apparently now available agency-wide.”
The filings appeared in U.S. District Court in Minnesota as part of the Justice Department’s criminal case against 15 protesters accused of conspiring to impede or injure federal agents. The records connect the surveillance activity to that prosecution, while separately documenting contact with unions, nonprofits and community groups.
The investigation covered the Twin Cities during the immigration crackdown. Its records include the January training, the March protest monitoring and the May church meeting, placing the documented activity across several months.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Consult a qualified immigration attorney about your specific case.
