An internal FBI report revealed by The Guardian shows that the agency has initiated cases of "criminal and domestic terrorism investigations" due to alleged threats against immigration activity in at least 23 jurisdictions across the country, including protests, messages, and campaigns against ICE, under a new national security memo pushed by President Donald Trump.
A memo from Trump that redefines dissent
The leaked document was drafted on November 14 in response to the National Security Presidential Memorandum-7 (NSPM-7), signed on September 25, which orders a national strategy to “investigate and dismantle networks and organizations that promote political violence.”
According to an analysis by the ACLU on NSPM-7, the memorandum empowers the Department of Justice, the FBI, and other federal agencies to form joint teams and use counterterrorism tools, including financial intelligence capabilities and enhanced surveillance, against individuals deemed involved in "domestic terrorism" or "organized political violence."
What is the FBI investigating?
According to the report by Common Dreams, the internal memo discusses “threats against immigration enforcement activities” and includes both attacks on ICE facilities and personnel, as well as messages, pressure campaigns, and the organization of protests that, in the agents' view, could lead to violence.
That same report details that agents must monitor "indicators" such as the use of encrypted applications to discuss ICE, the "stockpiling or distribution of firearms," and conducting "online searches" regarding the movements and addresses of immigration agents, blending digital self-protection practices and citizen monitoring with potential preparations for attacks.
Real violence and political pretext
The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security cite, in a joint intelligence bulletin obtained by CBS News, at least two recent attacks on detention centers and ICE offices in Texas, as well as damage to facilities in other states, to argue that there is an "escalation" of violence compared to previous years, when vandalism was more common.
At the same time, legal experts warn that the new priority of "domestic terrorism" defined by NSPM-7, described in an academic analysis on how dissent is labeled as terrorism, makes it easier for the Government to use actual violent incidents as a pretext to monitor and target protest movements that operate within the framework of the First Amendment.
Alerts from civil rights organizations
Civil rights organizations have expressed their alarm in statements gathered by Common Dreams, warning that the use of the terrorism designation and counterterrorism tools against pro-immigrant activists represents a qualitative leap in the criminalization of protest and may jeopardize freedoms of expression, association, and assembly protected by the Constitution.
The ACLU and other groups also warn that NSPM-7 paves the way for investigating and sanctioning NGOs, foundations, and donors that fund groups deemed "radical," which could impact networks supporting migrants, court observers, and organizations documenting abuses by ICE and other immigration agencies.
Surveillance of chats and pro-migrant activists
In a related case, another report from The Guardian revealed that the FBI infiltrated and monitored a Signal chat of migrant rights activists in New York, using a confidential source with "excellent access," which reinforces allegations that political organizing protected by the Constitution is being surveilled.
Pro-migrant groups cited by Common Dreams argue that this mass surveillance and the use of the term "terrorism" aim to intimidate volunteers, churches, lawyers, and Latino communities that assist newcomers and document abuses in ICE detention centers.
Impact on Latino and Cuban migrants
The offensive occurs against a backdrop of increased raids, expedited deportations, and reports of poor conditions in detention centers, as outlined in the joint DHS and FBI bulletin on attacks against ICE, where thousands of Latin American migrants, including Cubans, are in ICE custody awaiting their hearings or deportation.
As the article “Labeling dissent as terrorism” warns, the possibility that solidarity with migrants or criticism of immigration policies may be viewed through the lens of “domestic terrorism” can have a chilling effect on activism in Latino and Caribbean communities, as it raises the legal and personal costs of participating in campaigns and mobilizations against ICE.
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