Undercover Agents in Minnesota: Immigration Tactics Under Fire

Mon Feb 09 2026 01:09:24 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In suburban Minneapolis, a confrontation between a restaurant owner and suspected undercover federal agents exposes a wave of impersonation tactics in immigration enforcement, raising fears among local communities.

Luis Ramirez, a restaurant owner in Minneapolis, filmed a confrontation with two men he suspected were undercover federal agents posing as utility workers. This incident reflects growing concerns about immigration enforcement tactics in Minnesota, where reports indicate federal agents have increasingly adopted disguises to monitor communities without proper transparency. Legal advocates warn that these tactics foster distrust and contribute to a climate of fear around immigration enforcement.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Luis Ramirez couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling about men disguised as utility workers he spotted outside his family's Mexican restaurant in suburban Minneapolis. They wore high-visibility vests and clean white hard hats, even while in their vehicle, raising suspicions after a search for the supposed Wisconsin electrical company yielded no results.

On Tuesday, when the men returned, Ramirez, 31, captured the confrontation on video, shouting, This is what our taxpayer money goes to: renting these vehicles with fake tags to come watch my business. The men obscured their faces and appeared to be wearing tactical gear under their yellow vests.

Despite inquiries to the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, no information has been confirmed regarding the identities of the men. But similar encounters have become more common across Minnesota amidst a sweeping immigration crackdown.

Legal observers report increasing incidents of federal agents impersonating construction workers and other non-threatening roles. These tactics have been criticized by immigrant rights advocates who argue they exploit trust to instill fear.

Naureen Shah, director of immigration advocacy at the ACLU, noted, If you have people afraid that the electrical worker outside their house might be ICE, you’re inviting public distrust and confusion on a much more dangerous level. She expressed concerns about the implications of such deceptive practices for community relations.

Historically, immigration enforcement has employed disguises to conduct operations without warrants but what’s being reported in Minnesota reflects a concerning escalation. Local authorities noted that agents have been observed using fake license plates and discarding state laws to disguise their vehicular identities.

As federal agents increasingly face scrutiny from activist groups, Ramírez acknowledges an added layer of anxiety among local residents: Everybody is on edge about these guys, man. It feels like they’re everywhere. The evolving tactics of immigration enforcement have transformed community policing, provoking fear and tension within immigrant-populated neighborhoods.