A chilling confession unfolded before the Salt Lake City Council. A woman identifying herself only as “TJ” calmly revealed she orchestrates a large-scale operation – an “ICE Watch” – meticulously tracking federal immigration agents.
For nearly a year, TJ has overseen a network of over 20,000 people, primarily from the Latino community, functioning as a civilian intelligence agency focused on federal law enforcement. This isn’t simply observation; it’s a coordinated effort to gather photos, verify tips, and disseminate real-time information.
TJ’s testimony painted a disturbing picture of alleged abuses. She spoke of repeated violations of constitutional and human rights, claiming agents have fabricated charges and subjected innocent, tax-paying individuals to aggressive tactics.
She recounted witnessing agents forcing customers to the ground at gunpoint, and described a harrowing incident where a legally-resident woman was allegedly “kidnapped” to compel her husband’s surrender. Fear, she explained, silences many victims.
TJ asserted these actions aren’t isolated incidents, but systemic violations of Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights, leading to inhumane detention conditions – cold, hunger, and disrespect. She believes the state’s political leaning shields it from wider awareness of these alleged practices.
Her appeal to the council wasn’t for sympathy, but for action. TJ promised a detailed memo outlining specific steps the city and its police department could take, signaling a continued and intensified effort to monitor and challenge ICE operations.
This revelation comes amidst growing scrutiny of “ICE Watch” groups. A recent fatal shooting in Minneapolis involved a woman who had reportedly “trained” to disrupt ICE, highlighting the potential for escalation.
Documents have surfaced revealing a disturbing “de-arrest primer” circulated by a Minnesota ICE Watch group. This manual doesn’t advocate peaceful protest; it provides instructions on physically interfering with arrests, framing each intervention as a “micro-intifada.”
The Minnesota group, described as a collective of agitators, openly declares its mission to resist federal immigration enforcement and “all colonial militarized regimes.” Their actions suggest a willingness to confront, and potentially assault, law enforcement officers in the name of their cause.
The implications are clear: a network dedicated to monitoring and actively opposing federal agents is expanding, and its tactics are becoming increasingly confrontational, raising serious questions about the boundaries of activism and the safety of those involved.
