Minneapolis Union Leader Reveals Coordination Between Elected Officials and Activists in Anti-ICE Monitoring
In a recent televised interview, the president of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers (MFT) revealed a network of coordination involving city officials, educators, and community members aimed at countering U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities. The disclosure sheds light on the organized local resistance to federal immigration policy that has taken root in the Twin Cities area.
"Our bosses are in the Signal chats with us. Our elected officials are in the chats with us," said Marcia Howard, the MFT president and a longtime English teacher, in an interview with Al Jazeera. Howard, a prominent figure in local activism who helped steward the George Floyd Square memorial, described a community-wide effort involving "nanas, hockey coaches and soccer moms" to monitor and disrupt ICE operations. "Everybody that's anybody is doing the work of protecting our neighbors," she stated.
The encrypted Signal groups, according to Howard, are used to share information, run license plates, and organize patrols to alert residents when ICE agents are spotted. This system, activists argue, is a necessary community defense mechanism. However, the involvement of public officials and union representatives in actively subverting federal law enforcement operations presents a complex legal and ethical dilemma, blurring the lines between civil disobedience, official duty, and potential obstruction.
Background and Escalating Tensions
This revelation comes against a backdrop of prolonged tension in Minneapolis between immigrant communities and federal authorities. The city has long considered itself a "sanctuary" for undocumented immigrants. Howard's comments explicitly frame the conflict in stark terms, accusing federal agents of having "declared war" on Minnesota and drawing comparisons to historical slave catchers and the Ku Klux Klan.
Federal officials have previously condemned such coordinated interference. ICE has reported instances where agents were taunted, obstructed, and even physically assaulted by crowds, resulting in serious injuries and allowing individuals with criminal records to escape apprehension. They argue these actions undermine public safety and the rule of law.
Community and Official Reaction
The news has sparked intense debate locally. David Chen, a political science professor at the University of Minnesota, offered a measured analysis: "This is a fascinating case study in local federalism and civil disobedience. While citizens have a right to protest, the active participation of elected officials in tactics designed to directly impede federal officers likely crosses a line from protected speech into legally questionable territory. It's a high-stakes gamble."
Conversely, Maria Rodriguez, a community organizer with the Twin Cities Immigrant Rights Coalition, praised the efforts. "This is what true community looks like. When the government targets our families, we have a moral obligation to protect each other. The fact that our elected leaders stand with us, not hiding behind desks, shows courage and real representation."
A more critical perspective came from Gregory Barnes, a retired police sergeant and local talk radio caller. "This is an outrageous admission of conspiracy to obstruct justice," he said sharply. "Teachers' union bosses and city officials are literally running interference for criminals. They're not 'protecting neighbors'; they're shielding felons from deportation and putting their own political agendas above the safety of the very community they claim to serve. They should be investigated, not interviewed."
Looking Ahead
The interview has undoubtedly intensified scrutiny on the tactics of the local anti-ICE movement. It raises pressing questions about potential legal repercussions for those involved, the policies of the teachers' union, and the political fallout for officials named in the chats. As federal and local authorities remain at an impasse, the Signal groups symbolize a new front in the nation's immigration battles—fought not just at borders or in courts, but in neighborhood streets and encrypted apps.
Fox News Digital has contacted the Minneapolis Federation of Educators for further comment.