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DHS surveilled Minnesota activists, unions with facial recognition and informants

Aug 13, 2026 · Minneapolis, MN

DHS surveilled Minnesota activists, unions with facial recognition and informants

Court documents filed in the federal conspiracy case against 15 Minnesotans accused of impeding ICE agents reveal that Homeland Security Investigations ran extensive surveillance programs, dubbed "Operation Puppet Master" and "Operation Whipple Shield," during Operation Metro Surge. Agents used administrative subpoenas to obtain financial records from labor unions and social justice organizations, deployed undercover operatives to infiltrate meetings and Signal chats, collected license plate numbers of church meeting attendees, and used Clearview AI facial recognition to compile dossiers on activists and protesters, including many who were never charged. Minnesota AFL-CIO president Bernie Burnham said unions were being targeted for standing in solidarity with immigrant workers, while an HSI agent testified that no one was investigated for First Amendment protected activity.

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