In Minnesota, federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are engaging in deeply troubling, potentially illegal behavior—tracking, intimidating, and even threatening citizens who observe or document their actions. These are not isolated incidents. In St. Paul, Judy and Noah Levy were followed, surrounded, and called out by name—despite never sharing their identity. Others have had their license plates photographed, their homes surveilled, and their rights trampled.

This isn’t law enforcement. This is intimidation.

Legal experts say ICE appears to be accessing private driver data in violation of Minnesota law, which prohibits such access outside of active investigations. Some local law enforcement agencies may even be enabling this behind closed doors. This surveillance chills our First Amendment rights and threatens the safety of both legal observers and ordinary residents. One immigration attorney, just two weeks from giving birth, was threatened with pepper spray—for asking agents to leave her private property.

Minnesotans are not criminals for watching what their government does. We’re not criminals for believing in due process, in the Constitution, and in the right to record public servants. The misuse of surveillance tools—license plate readers, facial recognition, and potentially hacked or misused local databases—is an abuse of public trust and public resources.

We are calling on Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and the Minnesota State Legislature to:

• Launch an immediate investigation into ICE activities in Minnesota;
• Ban state and local agencies from sharing data with ICE without a judicial warrant;
• Mandate transparency and reporting requirements for any data-sharing agreements involving Flock or similar surveillance technologies;
• Provide legal protection and support for ICE observers and immigration attorneys facing intimidation.

 Sign this petition if you believe in transparency, accountability, and the right to bear witness.