FBI Investigates Anti-ICE Signal Chat Group

The FBI has launched an investigation into a Signal chat group believed to be connected to anti-ICE activists aiming to disrupt federal immigration operations, as indicated by Director Kash Patel on Monday.

During an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Patel stated, “The Signal chat group is information that we collect from the public.”

He mentioned that investigations of this nature typically involve sending subpoenas, gathering data, and potentially putting individuals on grand juries to determine if any laws were broken or if violence was incited.

Patel explained, “This Signal chat is something that we at the FBI are looking at and leading the effort on.”

This announcement followed claims from independent journalist Cam Higbee, who reported that the group chat was infiltrated. The encrypted messaging platform was being used by activists to monitor Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis.

According to Higbee, conversations in the chat indicated that some activists were dedicating “shifts” to tracking vehicles used by federal law enforcement, while others served as “plate checkers,” verifying or updating tracking information.

Activists would dispatch a “commuter” to follow these vehicles. Some instances resulted in confronting individuals who were not law enforcement, which Higbee reported.

The Signal group had around 1,000 activists often participating in discussions, with about 50 engaging in ongoing group calls at any one time.

Patel cautioned that the FBI would not impede individuals exercising their right to peaceful protest. “We are not going to chase people or violate their freedom of speech for peacefully protesting,” he warned. However, he noted that investigations would take place only if there were threats of violence or harm to law enforcement personnel.