A leaked Signal group chat allegedly connecting top Minnesota Democrats and radical anti-ICE activists has ignited a political firestorm in the Twin Cities, with screenshots appearing to show coordination between individuals tied to Gov. Tim Walz and left-wing protest networks seeking to obstruct federal immigration enforcement.
The private messaging hub, known as “MN ICE Watch,” was reportedly used to share information on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, track agents’ movements, and coordinate street-level protests.
The leak came from independent journalist Cam Higby, who infiltrated the encrypted Signal group and published screenshots, videos, and audio recordings to X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday.
“I have infiltrated organizational Signal groups all around Minneapolis with the sole intention of tracking down federal agents and impeding, assaulting, and obstructing them,” Higby wrote. “Buckle up — all will be revealed.”
According to Higby’s thread, “MN ICE Watch” operates as a decentralized network of “patrols,” “dispatchers,” and “plate checkers” who share real-time intelligence on alleged ICE movements across Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs.
The groups reportedly use code names, emojis, and a plate-tracking database to identify federal vehicles and coordinate tailing of agents.
Screenshots from the leak appear to show Amanda Noelle Koehler, a former campaign strategist for Gov. Walz, listed as one of the group’s administrators under the alias “HAH.”
Other admins reportedly include local politician David Snyder and Minnesota State Senate candidate Anita Smithson, who was identified as a “dispatcher.”
The chats, according to Higby, reveal that members were divided into patrol zones — each with rotating daily group chats to avoid detection. “By midday, the Signal groups hit maximum capacity,” Higby said. “Those not chasing agents are told to leave to make room for people who are.”
Higby also published recordings showing “dispatchers” calling for backup as protesters tracked his vehicle, mistakenly believing he was an ICE agent. “They constantly misidentify vehicles,” he wrote. “But the system is organized — they use SALUTE codes to report size, activity, and location of federal units.”
Other messages described “training” for volunteer “occupations” and “mutual aid” channels where members could request supplies or reinforcements. One chat, called “Wolfpack,” reportedly operated overnight, with messages instructing “observers” to monitor “potential illegals” after 2 a.m.
The leaks also indicated the group relied on local cooperation, with messages suggesting some Minneapolis police officers were aware of the operation. “Local PD may get involved if ICE hinders public safety,” one post read.
Perhaps most troubling to federal officials were references to a “home base” where activists were expected to report. “These thugs apparently have a ‘HOME BASE,’” Higby wrote. “I haven’t been able to identify it, but it’s clear this is a coordinated operation.”
If verified, the leaks could have serious implications for Minnesota officials, who are already under federal investigation for allegedly obstructing ICE operations. The Department of Justice recently issued subpoenas to Gov. Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, probing claims of interference with federal law enforcement.
Conservative lawmakers held up the new revelations as further proof of political collusion between Democratic officials and anti-ICE activists. “If this reporting is accurate, it confirms what many of us suspected,” one senior GOP aide told Just the News. “There’s a shadow network of political operatives coordinating to undermine federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota.”
Federal law enforcement sources told Fox News Digital they were aware of the leak and reviewing the material for potential violations of federal law, including obstruction of justice, conspiracy, and the doxxing of federal personnel — all of which carry criminal penalties.
Meanwhile, protest groups in Minneapolis have gone largely silent online following the publication of the leaked materials. Several Signal groups appeared to be deleted or reconstituted under new names by Thursday afternoon.
“This is a level of organization that most people don’t understand,” Higby said in a follow-up post. “They have dispatch calls, shift changes, plate databases, and even coded emojis for command positions. It’s a militia in everything but name.”
