A shadow war is unfolding across the nation, far removed from traditional battlefields. It’s a conflict fueled by passionate conviction, escalating tensions, and increasingly dangerous tactics directed at those enforcing immigration laws.
What began as vocal opposition to ICE has morphed into highly organized networks dedicated to disrupting enforcement. These groups don’t simply protest; they actively track agents, interfere with arrests, and disseminate carefully crafted narratives designed to undermine public trust.
The tactics are chilling. Agents are “doxed” – their personal information publicly exposed – and subjected to threats against their families. Online, manipulated videos circulate, twisting reality to portray ICE as the aggressor, omitting crucial context like resistance during arrest or the legal status of those detained.
A common refrain is the claim of “no due process,” despite the fact that many facing deportation have exhausted legal appeals and have final orders in place. Activists often present individuals as victims of a broken system, even when those individuals were actively attempting to circumvent legal immigration procedures.
Language itself is weaponized. Arrests become “abductions,” detentions are “whisking away.” This deliberate framing, amplified by media figures and public officials in sanctuary cities, paints a picture of an oppressive force operating outside the bounds of law.
In Minneapolis, the story took a tragic turn. Renee Nicole Good, drawn to the city to join the “ICE Watch” network, actively monitored and attempted to document ICE operations. Bodycam footage captured her escalating a confrontation, accelerating her vehicle and striking an agent – a reckless act that ultimately cost her life.
This incident underscores a disturbing truth: the violence doesn’t originate with ICE, but with those who choose to interfere with lawful enforcement. A refusal to accept the consequences of illegal entry fuels the disorder, and activist organizations are actively encouraging it.
The financial undercurrents of this movement are complex and troubling. While fueled by grassroots passion, these organizations receive funding from a variety of sources, including the federal government itself.
Significant funding also flows from foundations like those associated with George Soros, and through intermediary organizations like Tides Nexus, which channels millions to various activist groups. This network of funding has even been linked, through fiscal sponsorship, to organizations designated as terrorist entities.
ICE Watch Minneapolis exemplifies the on-the-ground tactics. Training materials explicitly instruct members on how to obstruct law enforcement, including blocking vehicles and creating human barricades. Crowdsourced spreadsheets and mobile apps are used to track agents’ movements, even during their personal time.
A disturbing “de-arrest primer” circulating within the group details methods for physically interfering with arrests – encircling officers, forcibly pulling detainees away, and overwhelming the scene with sheer numbers. The language frames these actions as minor offenses, anticipating “catch and release.”
Twin Cities Ungovernables, a more radical collective, openly advocates for direct action and even arson, calling for the destruction of symbols of authority. Their rhetoric is inflammatory, and they’ve aligned with ICE Watch groups, escalating the potential for violence.
Indivisible Twin Cities, a branch of a national anti-Trump network, has played a key role in organizing protests and mobilizing demonstrations across the country, receiving substantial funding from Open Society-affiliated organizations through Tides Nexus.
Tides Nexus, a fiscal sponsor for numerous social ventures, has funneled millions to groups with controversial affiliations. Alliance for Global Justice, funded by Tides, provides support to Samidoun, an organization recently designated a sham charity and fundraising arm for a terrorist group.
Other groups funded through this network have been associated with campaigns against Israel and public support for designated terrorist organizations. These connections have prompted calls for investigation and potential revocation of Tides’ tax-exempt status.
The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) operates extensive “Migra Watch” training programs, funded primarily by government grants. These programs teach participants how to identify, document, and respond to ICE activity, utilizing a standardized reporting method.
Thousands have been trained through ICIRR’s programs, conducted in partnership with various community organizations. The scale and scope of these training initiatives demonstrate a concerted effort to actively monitor and interfere with immigration enforcement across the country.
