Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Minneapolis maintained a secret database tracking protesters and legal observers during demonstrations in early 2026, according to documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. The records, which include an “Agitator Log,” reveal 60 individual instances of interactions between ICE personnel and individuals protesting near the Whipple Federal Building in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The database contains detailed summaries of encounters, including vehicle descriptions, license plate numbers, and photos of vehicles believed to be associated with protesters. While personal information was redacted in the released documents, the records show officers logging benign activities such as following ICE officers or observing their movements. Some entries also describe evasive actions, confrontations, and whether local law enforcement was involved.
Michael Khalili, a legal observer who had his Global Entry status revoked after multiple interactions with ICE agents last year, recognized descriptions of his vehicle and the dates in the records. “It was clear they were tracking us and trying to find reasons to crack down,” Khalili said. Advocates argue that the recorded incidents predominantly document protected First Amendment activities like protesting and documenting government actions.
These disclosures contradict repeated public statements by ICE leadership denying the existence of such a database. Former acting ICE Director Todd Lyons testified before Congress in February that no database tracking protesters existed. DHS officials similarly denied maintaining lists of individuals based on their activism or presence at demonstrations. Following the recent release of the records, ICE and the Department of Homeland Security have not provided comment addressing the new evidence.
In parallel, a court filing unsealed in Maine revealed that ICE officers there have uploaded photos of protesters into an “Investigative Case Management” system, referencing a “Master List of Agitators,” which remains sealed. Legal experts contend these actions confirm concerns about a broader, coordinated effort to monitor and potentially retaliate against individuals exercising their right to protest.
The surveillance practice gained national attention after Renee Good was shot and killed in January while observing ICE officers in Minneapolis. Senior administration officials at that time labeled her a “domestic terrorist,” a characterization echoed in later incidents, including the recording of an ICE officer stating that protesters were being cataloged as domestic terrorists.
Federal prosecutors charged 15 individuals in Minnesota in June with offenses related to allegedly hindering federal law enforcement during protests, including charges of interstate stalking. Some attorneys representing the defendants argue that the ICE database was designed to support these prosecutions, capturing only a portion of total interactions occurring in the Twin Cities.
Legal scholars underscore that following, recording, or vocally challenging law enforcement in public spaces is generally lawful. However, when such activities are criminalized based on perceived disruption or danger, constitutional questions arise. Mindy Haas, an international affairs professor, warned that tracking individuals engaged in protected speech risks chilling free expression, raising concerns about government overreach and the boundaries of lawful protest.
The revelations have intensified debate over government surveillance tactics related to domestic dissent and the transparency of law enforcement agencies monitoring public demonstrations.