U.S. Homeland Security Conducted 'Operation Puppet Master' to Spy on Anti-ICE Protesters and Progressive Organizations, Documents Show

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conducted an expansive, multi-state surveillance operation targeting mainstream labor unions, environmental activists and progressive nonprofit groups.

The investigations followed a 2025 executive order from President Donald Trump that designated the “antifa” movement as a “domestic terrorist organization” and blamed it for “riots” targeting ICE.

The details were revealed in nearly 30 internal law enforcement reports unsealed Thursday, August 13, in federal court in Minnesota.

The surveillance operations — codenamed "Operation Puppet Master" and "Operation Whipple Shield" — began following an immigration enforcement surge and the fatal shooting of a protest filmmaker by Border Patrol agents.

Under the guise of investigating "domestic terrorist financing," Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) deployed a wide range of invasive tactics against organizations and individuals who had not been accused of crimes.

Agents posing as activists infiltrated community meetings, online organizing spaces and public venues, including churches and libraries.

Undercover operatives gained access to private Signal group chats to monitor protest logistics and political views.

Operatives also covertly recorded audio at community events, including a "resistance training" session held at a public library.

The agency bypassed judges by using administrative subpoenas to obtain up to three years of financial and wire transfer records from targeted groups.

Agents also documented the names, photographs and license plate numbers of peaceful demonstrators.

Prosecutors presented a grand jury with a list of 18 prominent political and labor organizations alleged to be part of a "conspiracy" to obstruct immigration enforcement. None of the groups have been charged with a crime.

The organizations included labor unions such as the AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and Communications Workers of America (CWA); advocacy groups including the Sunrise Movement, Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and Voices for Racial Justice; and local nonprofits, including teacher unions, racial justice training networks and Latino advocacy groups such as Unidos MN.

The unsealed documents originated from a federal criminal case against 15 Minneapolis protesters who were indicted in June on charges of conspiracy to impede or injure federal officers. Defense attorneys filed the records to highlight what they described as a pattern of political repression and overreach.

The files indicate that the federal operation followed executive directives and policy memos ordering law enforcement to prioritize groups demonstrating "extremism on migration" or opposition to border control

Civil rights advocates and targeted organizers have publicly condemned the campaign, warning that the strategy weaponizes counterterrorism tools to criminalize dissent and chill First Amendment protections.

"I was shocked at the scope and the apparent lack of investigative discipline involved, but not totally surprised," Kevin Riach, an attorney for one of the indicted protesters, told The Guardian.

Mike German, a former FBI agent and civil liberties advocate, agreed, adding, "Nobody should be surprised that the government would use these authorities to target political opposition rather than target criminals, particularly so under this administration."