In the aftermath of the killing of two American citizens at the hands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Minnesota last winter, federal agents were sent in to pose as activists, infiltrate meetings at local churches, and create dossiers on those who attended. In some instances, federal agents even appeared to try to steer otherwise-peaceful individuals towards violence.
The shocking revelations are contained in newly filed government records disclosed as part of a federal criminal case. According to the filing, agents working for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) — a division within ICE — infiltrated at least four churches in Minnesota, collecting information such as license plate numbers of attendees, and then using that information to identify the vehicle owners, search social media for photographs and posts, and assemble what the records called an “intel workup” on each person.
