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Court Records Disclose Federal DHS Surveillance Operation Targeting Anti-ICE Groups and Unions
Just the facts
Internal Department of Homeland Security documents filed in federal court revealed Operation Puppet Master, an investigation launched in January 2026 into community groups organizing against Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in Minnesota. Undercover federal agents infiltrated Signal group chats, attended public skills training sessions at libraries, recorded audio at community meetings, and logged attendee license plate numbers. Subpoenas were issued to obtain financial records from organizations including the Service Employees International Union, Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO, and the Sunrise Movement. Defense attorney Kevin Riach filed the records to request additional court-mandated disclosures, arguing that federal authorities exceeded investigative scope while prosecuting 15 protesters for conspiracy to impede federal officers.
Why this is news
Court filings in a federal criminal prosecution of 15 Minneapolis activists disclosed internal reports detailing a Department of Homeland Security surveillance operation targeting groups opposed to federal immigration enforcement.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.