A network of left-wing organizations received millions in funding from progressive foundations and “dark-money” groups to organize opposition against federal immigration operations in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. This substantial financial support underscores the scale of the activism, which included tracking and harassing approximately 2,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents deployed by the Trump administration. Central to these activities is the Sunrise Movement, whose local chapter, Sunrise Twin Cities, expanded its mission from climate change to focus heavily on anti-immigration enforcement actions.

The Sunrise Twin Cities chapter organizes “action trainings” instructing activists on how to “stop ICE.” Their tactics include maintaining lists of hotels housing agents and organizing late-night noise demonstrations designed to disrupt federal operations and pressure hotel management. This group coordinates closely with others, including Unidos MN (which operates a rapid-response hotline via its affiliate Monarca to observe or confront enforcement actions) and Defend the 612, which provides “ICE Watch” guidance. Resources distributed by these groups sometimes refer to immigration agents as “abductors.”

The coordinated effort intensified following the January 7 death of resident Renee Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE agent after driving forward when ordered to exit her vehicle. Training materials, associated with groups monitoring ICE, detail high-risk methods such as “de-arresting.” These tactics involve physically interfering with law enforcement to prevent arrests, including surrounding officers, blocking federal vehicles, and attempting to physically pull officers away from arrestees, tactics that carry significant risk due to direct contact with law enforcement.