[CLSTR]
< Back to situations

Monitor this situation.

[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [POLITICS]

2 clusters · 11 sources · 22 days · First seen · Last updated

US Department of Homeland Security surveillance litigation

Overview

Legal challenges and court filings have emerged regarding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its surveillance practices. Initial litigation involved allegations that the agency unlawfully repealed a long-standing fee waiver for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and engaged in retaliatory surveillance against an individual monitoring immigration enforcement.

Subsequent disclosures revealed broader undercover operations in Minnesota, identified as ‘Operation Puppet Master’ and ‘Project Whipple Shield.’ These investigations allegedly targeted progressive groups, labor unions, and community institutions, including churches and schools, to identify those suspected of obstructing federal immigration enforcement. Court documents indicate that agents monitored group chats, obtained financial records of nonprofits, and compiled dossiers on citizens attending informational meetings.

Recent court filings detail that these operations were launched during a federal immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities. Defense attorney Kevin Riach stated that federal agents infiltrated meetings at churches, schools, libraries, and parks to monitor discussions regarding constitutionally protected protests.

Furthermore, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) subpoenaed several years of financial records from organizations including the Sunrise Movement, the Communications Workers of America, and the Service Employees International Union. These actions were part of a probe into potential funding for what officials described as ‘violent opportunists and agitators.’ The surveillance surfaced in connection with a case involving 15 individuals charged with conspiring to impede federal immigration operations.

Entities

Sunrise Movement · Department of Homeland Security · Minneapolis Federation of Educators · Kevin Riach · Homeland Security Investigations

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

Timeline

  1. about 14 hours ago

    [POLITICS] 11 sources
    DHS surveillance in Minnesota targeted progressive groups and unions

    Court documents show the DHS conducted undercover surveillance and subpoenaed union and climate group records in Minnesota during an immigration crackdown, targeting progressive organizations.

  2. 22 days ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Department of Homeland Security sued over SIJS fee waiver repeal and protester surveillance

    DHS faces two lawsuits: one challenging the end of a $250 fee waiver for SIJS, the other alleging surveillance and retaliation against a protest observer whose Global Entry was revoked.

Sources

albertleatribune.com · cindigayrughooking.com · elmercuriodigital.net · ibtimes.co.uk · independent.co.uk · kstp.com · minnpost.com · mymotherlode.com · srnnews.com · winnipegfreepress.com · wtop.com

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history