As protests continue to grow across the U.S. in reaction to aggressive actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), citizens have begun using homemade digital tools to monitor ICE activities in real-time. These grassroots tracking initiatives have caught the attention of U.S. intelligence agencies, which are now treating them as potential threats.
A recent bulletin, obtained from a regional fusion center in Vermont, reveals that analysts are monitoring various interactive mapping websites where users can report encounters with ICE agents. The bulletin, stemming from information shared by the Army’s ARTIC threat monitoring center, indicates that while the majority of the map users appear to be civilians aiming to avoid federal encounters, there is concern that "malicious actors" might use these tools to target law enforcement.
The nonprofit organization Property of the People sought to gather more information through public records but found officials unwilling to disclose details, citing ongoing law enforcement investigations.
Ryan Shapiro, the organization’s executive director, criticized these intelligence alerts, stating that transparency should not be equated with terrorism. He emphasized that the real threat lies in enforcement tactics that invade communities and disrupt lives.
In February, a warning by the Wisconsin Statewide Intelligence Center highlighted that tracking maps, utilized by advocates on platforms like Reddit and Padlet, have been deemed a “strategic threat” and are being monitored by special operations units. Analysts noted increased online threats toward ICE officers, including posts advocating violence, although most social media content reflected general outrage towards harsh immigration enforcement rather than direct threats.
A report detailing the upcoming "No Kings" protests—which will take place at numerous sites across California and the nation—revealed that while these protests are characterized as nonviolent, state agencies plan to gather intelligence to ensure public safety. The protests come against a backdrop of significant military presence amidst the immigration crackdown, leading demonstrators to frame their actions as a definitive stand against authoritarianism.
Approximately 2,000 protests are set for coordination with a military parade in Washington, D.C., featuring thousands of soldiers and vehicles. Demonstrators view the involvement of military forces amid civilian protests as an alarming overreach of government power and a potential violation of civil liberties, particularly in light of the ongoing militarization of law enforcement.
The organizers of the "No Kings" protests express that their efforts represent a collective rejection of authoritarian measures, signifying a push for genuine democratic expression in communities across the nation.
