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DHS conducted undercover surveillance on Minnesota progressive groups
Newly released court documents reveal that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conducted extensive undercover surveillance operations in Minnesota targeting progressive organizations and labor unions. The operations, identified as ‘Operation Puppet Master’ and ‘Project Whipple Shield,’ involved federal agents infiltrating meetings, monitoring encrypted Signal chats, and attending public gatherings.
The surveillance targeted approximately 18 organizations, including the Sunrise Movement, the AFL-CIO, the Communications Workers of America, and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Investigators also used administrative subpoenas to obtain several years of financial records from these groups as part of an inquiry into what officials termed ‘domestic terrorist financing.’
The disclosures surfaced during a legal case involving 15 individuals indicted for allegedly obstructing federal immigration enforcement actions. Defense attorneys have alleged that undercover agents went beyond mere observation, with one agent reportedly offering to assist organizers in constructing items for more confrontational direct-action protests.
DHS maintains that Homeland Security Investigations operates only when there is lawful cause. However, civil liberties advocates have criticized the scope of the investigation, arguing that the surveillance of lawful advocacy and meetings may infringe upon First Amendment rights.
Entities
AFL-CIO · Department of Homeland Security · Donald Trump · Kevin Riach · Minneapolis · Service Employees International Union · Sunrise Movement
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The surveillance targeted 18 organizations, including the AFL-CIO and Sunrise Movement. newsfactsnetwork.com · crooksandliars.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] An undercover agent allegedly offered to help an organizer construct items for confrontational direct-action protests. newsfactsnetwork.com
- [● 6 SOURCES] Fifteen activists were indicted for allegedly obstructing federal officers during an immigration crackdown. newsfactsnetwork.com · onlabor.org · themorninghustle.com · getuperica.com · newstalkcleveland.com · +1 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] The surveillance operations were named ‘Operation Puppet Master’ and ‘Project Whipple Shield’. newsfactsnetwork.com · onlabor.org
- [● 3 SOURCES] Federal agents obtained years of financial records from the Communications Workers of America and Service Employees International Union. newsfactsnetwork.com · onlabor.org · crooksandliars.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] DHS states that Homeland Security Investigations operates only when there is lawful cause. newsfactsnetwork.com
- [● 7 SOURCES] Undercover agents infiltrated meetings of the Sunrise Movement and other progressive organizations. newsfactsnetwork.com · onlabor.org · themorninghustle.com · getuperica.com · crooksandliars.com · +2 more