In Washington, Letitia James, previously an aide to New York’s attorney general, heads a liberal nonprofit that funds anti-ICE training efforts. These sessions encourage demonstrators to disrupt federal immigration operations and advise using encrypted communications to share sensitive information discreetly.
Anna Brouwer, who served as James’s chief of staff until September, is the chair of the Hopewell Foundation, part of a consortium of left-leaning philanthropic organizations managed by Arabella Advisors until 2024.
It’s reported that in 2024, Hopewell allocated over $91 million in grants towards various civil rights and social advocacy initiatives. The organization’s most recent tax documentation reveals its support for an entity known as States at the Core.
According to the nonprofit, over 12,000 participants have attended its ICE Watch seminars since President Trump’s second term began, although precise numbers aren’t clear. Hopewell has backed this initiative since its launch in November 2024, as detailed in a report.
“Protecting human dignity and safety is at the heart of our mission, and we take steps to prevent interference with law enforcement activities,” Brouwer stated in a response.
However, conservative watchdog organizations contest this viewpoint. Caitlin Sutherland, the executive director of Americans for Public Trust, claims these training sessions explicitly direct activists to obstruct enforcement, violating federal law.
The IRS stipulates that nonprofits cannot engage in unlawful acts, which include obstructing government operations, Sutherland pointed out.
Core States advises protestors to form quick-response teams to document federal immigrant arrests, which are often described as “kidnappings.” Training materials reviewed suggest these actions sometimes appear obstructed.
An October training presentation instructed participants to gather extensive information about ICE officers present, such as the number of agents, their names, badge identifiers, and vehicle details.
This content stems from sessions held during Trump’s first term. Jill Garvey, a leader at Protect RP, is also a co-director of States at the Core.
Other training slides cautioned participants not to interfere with operations. One guideline advised, “If law enforcement requests you step back, repeat this and gradually retreat while recording yourself.”
Yet, there are inconsistencies, particularly in places like Minneapolis, where confrontations between ICE policies and opposing activists have become increasingly prevalent.
Protect RP’s documents from June 2025 indicate a goal to impede immigration agents by physically blocking them with groups of activists when there are five or more observers.
Trainers also recommended tactics like surrounding vehicles and alerting others about federal actions.
Responding to the training information, Sutherland affirmed the right to peaceful protest but asserted this does not extend to preventing officials from conducting their duties.
Private messaging groups on Signal facilitate coordination among activists, promoting what the ICE Watch group terms as “lawful observation rights,” while also advising caution to avoid any self-harm or harm to others.
“We don’t provide legal advice,” said additional training slides, emphasizing the reliance on communal knowledge to guide ICE Watch practices.
Sutherland and other conservatives expressed concerns about Hopewell’s funding of left-leaning protests in the U.S., highlighting that they received substantial financial support related to core activities in 2024.
Recently revealed during a congressional hearing, it was disclosed that Hopewell received $2.8 million from the Oak Foundation, based in Switzerland.
This follows increased scrutiny from the Trump administration regarding leftist organizations like George Soros’ Open Society Foundations.
Tragically, two members of the ICE Watch group, Renee Good and Alex Preti, were shot by federal immigration agents last month in Minneapolis after police interactions escalated.
Good reportedly drove toward an ICE officer when asked to exit the vehicle, while Preti, who allegedly resisted law enforcement commands, was killed during an ensuing confrontation.
In the aftermath, comments from the Trump administration only heightened tensions, with officials categorizing the pair’s actions as tantamount to domestic terrorism.
Amid these tensions, local Democratic leaders, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, have challenged the legality of ICE operations in their areas.
Last week, Trump’s border czar met with municipal officials following the approval to withdraw various personnel from the Twin Cities.
Letitia James stands among notable Democratic figures who have criticized ICE’s strategies within their jurisdictions, recently initiating a legal monitoring project aimed at overseeing federal immigration practices in New York.
“The events in Minnesota illustrate how swiftly the federal government can escalate situations in the absence of accountability,” James remarked, adding that her office will review immigration enforcement activities to ensure compliance with legal standards.
Representatives from the core states have yet to respond to requests for commentary.
