{"id":2645846,"date":"2026-08-17T05:32:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T09:32:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/homeland-security-investigated-minnesota-labor-unions-for-antifa-ties\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T05:38:05","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T09:38:05","slug":"homeland-security-investigated-minnesota-labor-unions-for-antifa-ties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/homeland-security-investigated-minnesota-labor-unions-for-antifa-ties\/","title":{"rendered":"Homeland Security investigated Minnesota labor unions for antifa ties"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhomeland-security-investigated-minnesota-labor-unions-for-antifa-ties%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2645846&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Federal undercover agents infiltrated protests and labor meetings related to anti-ICE activism, targeting organized efforts to impede Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Minnesota. The inquiry focused on a conspiracy allegedly linked to antifa groups like direct action Minnesota (DAMN), which coordinated activities including protests, recruitment, and support for radical causes. DHS records reveal surveillance of union meetings,financial scrutiny of major labor unions such as SEIU and CWA,and efforts to uncover funding sources for anti-ICE protests. The case alleges that prominent labor unions and Leftist organizations were involved in a coordinated effort to oppose ICE, with some defense attorneys criticizing the investigation as politically motivated.The FBI and DHS conducted covert operations, including infiltrations, wiretaps, and financial audits, to gather evidence against those accused. Several individuals, including labor and anti-ICE activists like Isaac Sant, face federal charges for conspiracy, assault, and property destruction related to these protests. The case has sparked debate over alleged political bias and unconstitutional surveillance tactics.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Undercover federal agents, posing as anti-<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/deportation\/\">deportation<\/a> activists, spied on prominent labor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/unions\/\">unions<\/a> as part of the Department of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Homeland-Security\/\">Homeland Security<\/a>\u2019s investigation into what prosecutors say was a well-funded and highly organized conspiracy among <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/antifa\/\">antifa<\/a> militants in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Minnesota\/\">Minnesota<\/a> to methodically impede <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ICE\/\">Immigration and Customs Enforcement<\/a> operations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nurses and teachers unions have a documented history of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4654207\/nurses-teachers-unions-bankroll-leftist-candidates-causes\/\">bankrolling leftist candidates and causes<\/a>, with their financial support lately ballooning in the lead up to the 2026 elections.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4688414\/homeland-security-investigated-minnesota-labor-unions\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Homeland Security investigated Minnesota labor unions as part of \u2018terrorist financing\u2019 probe in anti-ICE antifa case: Court documents<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4684396\/el-sayed-endorsement-lobbyists-terrorist-financing\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>El Sayed touts endorsement from lobbyists tied to terrorist financing: \u2018Deeply grateful\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4685159\/fbi-secret-operation-extinguish-biden-family-foreign-influence-scandal\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>FBI ran secret operation to extinguish Biden family foreign influence scandal: Declassified documents<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to internal DHS records entered as exhibits in the criminal case, Homeland Security Investigations \u2014 the agency\u2019s investigative arm \u2014 infiltrated anti-ICE activation meetings at union halls in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Minneapolis\/\">Minneapolis<\/a> area, created dossiers documenting these secretly recorded planning sessions, and investigated at least two national unions\u2019 cash flow for \u201cdomestic terrorist financing\u201d ties.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<h2 id=\"h-undercover-agents-infiltrated-union-hall-meeting-to-defeat-ice\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Undercover agents infiltrated union hall meeting to \u2018Defeat ICE\u2019<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reconnaissance reports from the investigative case file, titled \u201cProject Whipple Shield,\u201d show that a team of HSI agents snuck into <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DUZM1zJEdr5\/\">a Feb. 15 recruitment drive<\/a> against ICE that was held at the United Labor Center in Minneapolis, which serves a common <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cwa7250.org\/calendar\/eventdetail\/2\/-\/general-membership-meeting\">meeting space<\/a> for the city\u2019s labor movement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alongside several local labor solidarity groups, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Democratic-Socialists-of-America\/\">Democratic Socialists of America<\/a>\u2019s Twin Cities chapter co-organized the February meeting as a \u201cWorkers Assembly to Defeat ICE and Plan the Next Mass Strike\u201d after anti-ICE activists waged a months-long campaign continuously attacking ICE\u2019s base of operations in Minneapolis, the Federal Whipple Building, during Operation Metro Surge.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTwin Cities workers, unions, community and rapid response groups are invited to collectively decide the next mass action against ICE,\u201d read a digital flyer advertising the event on social media.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote 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flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewbox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 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516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\" \/><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"http:\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The undercover HSI team\u2019s debrief to department supervisors reported that, upon checking in at the registration tables, the federal agents witnessed multiple demands during the meeting to free illegal immigrants from detention and abolish ICE as an institution, as well as all of Homeland Security. \u201cAfter discussion, a decision was made to concentrate on the abolition of ICE and not DHS,\u201d the report back read.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Audio recordings of the gathering, attended by approximately 200 participants, were attached to the report. The undercover agents recounted meeting organizers also addressing other resolutions important to the labor movement, including joining the Healthcare Workers for Palestine\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/healthworkersforpalestine.org\/2023\/11\/25\/hamilton-health-workers-out-for-palestine-on-november-30\/\">National Day of Action<\/a> against Israel and a proposal from the Revolutionary Communists of America to create <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/communistusa.org\/what-is-class-independence\/\">a labor-oriented political party<\/a> called the \u201cWorkers Party.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Per the meeting debrief, other left-wing organizations that sponsored the labor conference included Socialist Alternatives, the Ray Rainbolt Memorial Shooting Club, and the Communications Workers of America\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cwa7250.org\/\">Minneapolis branch<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"h-investigators-searched-for-funding-sources-and-organizations-involved\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Investigators searched for funding sources and organizations involved<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The stated purpose of Project Whipple Shield, according to the HSI special agent reports, was to uncover the funding sources behind the anti-ICE antifa ring targeting the Federal Whipple Building and the cell\u2019s organizational structure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Operational documents show that HSI also opened a separate investigation, \u201cOperation Puppet Master,\u201d four days after the fatal Border Portal shooting of anti-ICE activist Alex Pretti, a nurse and union member of the American Federation of Government Employees. Operation Puppet Master sought to unmask the agitators conspiring to exploit the civil unrest to riot, destroy federal property, and assault personnel protecting these facilities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">HSI\u2019s field office in St. Paul allegedly discovered a network of \u201cviolent opportunists,\u201d later identified as Direct Action Minnesota or DAMN, operating both online and in person by either directly participating in the assaults on ICE officers around Whipple or providing support through crowdfunding, planning, and mass mobilization efforts.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In its investigation into \u201cprotest domestic terrorist financing,\u201d HSI obtained the financial records of the Service Employees International Union, the country\u2019s second-largest labor union of public service workers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Through the execution of an administrative subpoena, HSI acquired years\u2019 worth of wire transfers from various financial institutions to and from the SEIU\u2019s bank account in Minneapolis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A preliminary analysis of the retrieved records only yielded transactions typically involved in union organizing, such as strike-related payments, strike supplies, member dues, and medical expenses, between the SEIU\u2019s national committee and local SEIU unions.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\">Homeland Security obtained the financial records of SEIU\u2019s transactions from 2023 to 2026. (United States v. Sant)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-image-caption=&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Homeland Security obtained the financial records of SEIU\u2019s transactions from 2023 to 2026. (United States v. Sant)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/08\/localimages\/image_c4092e.png?w=696&#8243; height=&#8221;476&#8243; width=&#8221;1024&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Homeland Security obtained the financial records of SEIU\u2019s transactions from 2023 to 2026. (United States v. Sant)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">HSI also issued an administrative summons seeking financial statements from the CWA pertaining to its donations and PAC spending. CWA, a left-of-center labor union <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/cwa-union.org\/about\/cwa-history\">affiliated<\/a> with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, represents communication workers across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada, including journalists at print and broadcast news companies. The investigation into CWA\u2019s finances additionally targeted the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, another <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ifpte.org\/about\">AFL-CIO affiliate<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Defense counsel for the lead defendant in the conspiracy case, <em>United States v. Sant<\/em>, filed <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.mnd.234416\/gov.uscourts.mnd.234416.212.0_3.pdf\">a discovery motion<\/a> on Thursday with the HSI exhibits attached, alleging that the federal government has \u201cdreamed up a conspiracy\u201d that extends far beyond the indicted co-conspirators to include, \u201cwith no evidence,\u201d major Minneapolis-area labor unions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The defense\u2019s filing cited a diagram the government presented to the grand jury that handed down the 94-page indictment against 15 alleged cell operatives of DAMN.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\">A grand jury exhibit claimed that numerous national labor unions were complicit in the criminal conspiracy to impede ICE during Operation Metro Surge. (United States v. Sant)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/08\/localimages\/image_63571a.png?w=696&#8243; height=&#8221;570&#8243; width=&#8221;1024&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A grand jury exhibit claimed that numerous national labor unions were complicit in the criminal conspiracy to impede ICE during Operation Metro Surge. (United States v. Sant)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prepared by HSI, the graphic visualized the purported conspiracy, in part plotting the Minneapolis Federation of Educators, the Minnesota Association of Public Employees, the AFL-CIO, and SEIU 26 of Minnesota as \u201ccouncil members\u201d within the DAMN network.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to a transcript of the grand jury proceedings, an HSI agent testified before the charging body that the slide shown was \u201ca snapshot of some of the other organizations that members are affiliated with that kind of comprise and make up DAMN.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-allegations-of-political-animus-driving-the-conspiracy-case\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Allegations of \u2018political animus\u2019 driving the conspiracy case<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The lawyer for the lead defendant, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/unicornriot.ninja\/2026\/charged-in-anti-ice-conspiracy-two-minnesota-defendants-speak-out\/\">self-described<\/a> healthcare worker Isaac Sant, argued in Thursday\u2019s filing that the prosecution\u2019s grand jury presentation reflected a \u201cbroad and irrational investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThese wild conspiracy allegations are born from the fantasies of political retribution that animate the Trump Administration,\u201d said Sant\u2019s criminal defense attorney, Kevin Riach. \u201cPresident Trump and senior administration officials routinely speak of the political left in de-humanizing terms \u2013 as \u2018deformed,\u2019 \u2018scarred,\u2019 and \u2018filled with ugliness,\u2019 for example. The administration has crystallized these sentiments into policies that encourage and authorize political prosecutions like this one.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the discovery motion for additional records from HSI\u2019s covert surveillance activities allegedly withheld from the defense, Riach claimed Homeland Security conducted an unconstitutional \u201cmass spying campaign\u201d that gathered intelligence on \u201cordinary people who were simply exercising their First Amendment right to protest ICE\u2019s lawless rampage in our state.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\">Sant allegedly at the scene of a damaged government-issued vehicle. (U.S. Justice Department)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/08\/localimages\/image_270547.png?w=350&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sant allegedly at the scene of a damaged government-issued vehicle. (U.S. Justice Department)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the federal <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-mn\/pr\/15-members-direct-action-minnesota-minneapolis-based-direct-action-group-antifa-ties\">indictment<\/a>, Sant was a top recruiter enlisting revolutionary-left radicals to join DAMN\u2019s rapid-response system, which deployed activists to counter the ICE raids around Minneapolis in real time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think the Twin Cities\u2019 real contributions to the field of revolutionary organization, of insurrectionary organization, is these rapid response networks,\u201d Sant allegedly said while on an anarchist speaking tour. \u201cI am in an anarchist, revolutionary organization. It\u2019s called Black Cat [Worker\u2019s Collective].\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Black Cat Worker\u2019s Collective, which investigators identified as one of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4613615\/inside-anti-ice-antifa-cell-minneapolis\/\">antifa affinity groups belonging to DAMN\u2019s coalition<\/a>, describes itself as a cohort of \u201cdedicated anarchists who root ourselves in the labor and direct action movements.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Minneapolis, the city\u2019s labor movement has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/minnesota15.org\/resolution-labor-movement-support-minnesota-15\">declared its support<\/a> for Sant and his jointly indicted codefendants, dubbing them the \u201cMinnesota 15.\u201d Supporters of the accused have set up <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/chuffed.org\/project\/186570-minnesota-15-legal-defense-fund\">a legal defense fund<\/a> on Chuffed.org, a crowdfunding site popular among left-wing activists. So far, the fund has collected more than $380,000, mostly from anonymous donors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The defendants face varying federal charges for their alleged involvement in the anti-ICE conspiracy, including conspiracy to impede or injure federal officers, interstate stalking, destruction of government property, assault of a federal officer, and solicitation to commit a crime of violence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Feds undercover infiltrated unions in anti-ICE probe<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3767,"featured_media":2645847,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Kyle-Wagner-antifa.jpg?w=594","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[3802,44871,38629,5698],"class_list":["post-2645846","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-antifa","tag-homeland-security","tag-labor-unions","tag-minnesota"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Kyle-Wagner-antifa.jpg?w=594","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645846","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3767"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2645846"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645846\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2645849,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645846\/revisions\/2645849"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2645847"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2645846"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2645846"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2645846"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}