A left-leaning group linked to a fatal incident involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minnesota on January 7 is part of a broader network using confrontational strategies against ICE across the United States.
Prior to the tragic confrontation, Lenny Goode, 37, volunteered with Minnesota’s ICE Watch, a group dedicated to alerting residents to document ICE activities in their areas, as noted by acquaintances and law enforcement officials. This kind of self-identified monitoring organization has become more prominent, especially with the enforcement policies seen during President Donald Trump’s administration. Resources, including an online directory, have sprung up to support these efforts.
There’s also a crowdsourced map cataloging suspected ICE activities nationwide, featuring photos and license plate details, accessible through a site linked to Minnesota ICE Watch. Legal documents reveal that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) once issued a subpoena in September to uncover Instagram users connected to this site, alleging “personal information theft.” However, the request was retracted after a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union, with Instagram users denying any wrongdoing.
Attempts to reach Minnesota ICE Watch for comments went unanswered, as they did not respond through Instagram or other means.
Analysis reveals that ICE’s monitoring frequently relies on hotlines and social media to pinpoint locations for protests, as well as utilizing “rapid response” teams to record ICE actions. In regions with “Sanctuary” policies that discourage local police from cooperating with ICE, a more aggressive style of anti-ICE dissent has emerged, ultimately contributing to the tragic events that led to Good’s death.
California
In January 2025, the Humane Immigrant Rights Coalition (CHIRLA), along with other groups, introduced the Los Angeles Rapid Response Network, engaging activists to monitor ICE operations via a publicly accessible hotline. Reports indicate that during significant ICE raids, influential figures within activist networks were involved and, in some cases, faced arrests following confrontations with authorities.
In October, the Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted 12 individuals linked to the activist group VC Defensa, which was involved in disturbances during an ICE raid at a cannabis farm. These activists reportedly obstructed ICE agents using equipment and stones to sound alarms about federal officials’ presence in the community.
Members of VC Defensa also tracked ICE activity and signaled local residents about federal enforcement actions. Amidst these tensions, moments of chaos erupted in Los Angeles, leading to various disturbances while sympathizers rallied through social media to support the cause.
Union del Barrio, another anti-ICE group, also faced scrutiny, with a member arrested while attempting to track ICE during a raid. Although she was charged with obstructing authorities, she was ultimately released without formal charges. The organization’s leader has articulated aspirations to dismantle ICE entirely, rather than merely observing their actions.
CHIRLA, SEIU, and VC Defensa did not respond to inquiries for comments, nor did Union del Barrio.
Oregon
The Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition (PIRC) actively conducts a program named “MigraWatch,” where residents track and report on ICE activities, supported by directives from the city. PIRC has recently relocated its offices to be closer to an ICE facility for increased vigilance, and city employees have been instructed to document ICE occurrences and report them to PIRC.
Through their training, PIRC aims to link community members with rapid response groups to bolster mutual support amid ongoing threats from ICE.
DMV
In Washington, D.C., the Migrant Solidarity and Mutual Assistance (MSMA) operates a hotline to alert communities about suspected ICE activity throughout D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. In stark contrast to other monitoring groups, MSMA encourages participants to avoid direct engagements during ICE observations to prevent further complications for those targeted.
MSMA emerged in 2022 in reaction to increased ICE actions in response to policy changes under the Trump administration, and it has since established a robust network for community awareness and support.
Red States
In various Republican-led states that advocate collaboration with ICE, surveillance networks have surfaced. A Texas chapter of the Brown Berets, inspired by earlier civil rights movements, initiated monitoring of ICE activities in their area. Their agenda includes comprehensive training and resources to inform the community and counteract ICE operations.
Meanwhile, in Florida, a recent group called Defensa Gulf Coast appeared online with aspirations to disrupt ICE actions in their locality, reflecting a growing trend of increased activism against federal immigration enforcement. Their current outreach efforts did not elicit a response.
