In Minneapolis, observers have documented immigration enforcement operations, raising allegations of federal government intimidation. Michael Khalili, a local resident, drove around the Twin Cities observing federal immigration officers’ activities after a surge in enforcement last winter.
Khalili highlighted the significance of bystander videos when federal immigration officers fatally shot fellow observer Alex Pretti. These videos disproved the Trump administration’s inaccurate claims about Pretti, such as allegations of domestic terrorism.
That’s the only reason why the government’s lies fell apart,
Khalili said. He stressed the importance of monitoring federal actions.
However, due to family pressure and increased risks, Khalili ceased observing ICE activities. He had tense interactions with federal officers, who took photos, told him to stop, and revoked his Global Entry status (later reinstated after media inquiry).
Concerns grew when Minnesota activists were indicted for conspiracy, and one charge involved following ICE vehicles, which paralleled Khalili’s experience.
Khalili is now a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit with nonprofit Common Cause, accusing agencies like DHS, DOJ, and the FBI of violating First Amendment and privacy rights. The lawsuit seeks to prevent federal agencies from intimidating or retaliating against observers.
Maryam Jazini Dorcheh, Common Cause’s vice president for litigation, emphasized the importance of citizen rights to hold the government accountable, warning of attacks on this democratic backbone.
NPR reported other instances of observer intimidation, such as threats of inclusion in a terrorist database and legal inquiries in California.
The lawsuit details encounters between Common Cause members and federal officers in states like Maryland, Minnesota, and New Jersey. Observers faced intimidation, police reporting, or threats.
In Maryland, an observer was banned from observing outside an ICE facility and was told their identity was obtained through a facial recognition database.
The complaint highlights a broader pattern of retaliation targeting observers, referencing Trump administration policies linking immigration enforcement interference to domestic terrorism.
These policies involved spying on activists, equating observers with violent rioters, removing safeguards against surveillance, and dismantling DHS’s civil rights office.
The federal retaliation included threats of force or arrest, collection of personal data, criminal charges, and penalties like revoking Global Entry or TSA PreCheck status.
Khalili joined the lawsuit to assist fellow observers, noting a paper trail of government actions against him that might deter unconstitutional conduct.
Since March 2026, Khalili found law enforcement queried his vehicle records 55 times. This detail is included in the lawsuit, highlighting heightened scrutiny post-observation.
Khalili emphasized his hope for protective changes from the lawsuit, preventing future intimidation, and allowing safe observation of federal actions.