# Chicago Police Assisted HSI Surveillance of Anti-ICE Activists Local officers joined a federal task force to monitor activists during a private speaking event. - **Source:** [Wired](https://www.wired.com) - **Published:** 2026-10-16 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/5b04cd75-d6b4-4458-9200-758a0ba8b4f1 ## Joint Task Force Operations A joint task force comprising 14 officers, including six local police and eight HSI Chicago agents, conducted surveillance on an April 2 speaking event in Bridgeport. The operation targeted a Crimethinc tour stop featuring activists discussing immigration resistance. This collaboration highlights the integration of local law enforcement into federal investigative units. ## Surveillance Tactics Employed The task force utilized undercover agents, audio recordings, and license-plate-reader data to monitor attendees. Agents also accessed Chicago’s extensive CCTV network to track movements near the venue. These methods were used to identify participants and establish connections to broader anti-ICE protests occurring across Illinois and other neighboring states during that period. ## Local Agency Participation Officers from Aurora, Downers Grove, Cook County, and Kane County participated in the HSI Chicago task force. Local police join these units on full- or part-time bases for two-year terms with superior approval. These departments have remained silent regarding their specific roles in the surveillance of the Chicago-based activist gathering. ## Legal and Policy Context While Illinois law restricts local police from participating in immigration enforcement, HSI claims this operation fell under criminal investigation mandates. The Chicago Police Department stated no First Amendment notifications were filed for this specific event. Officials maintain that their work with federal agencies remains permitted when focused on broader criminal enforcement activities. ## Evidence Collection Methods An undercover agent transmitted live audio from the event for one hour before losing the signal. Recordings were subsequently shared with Kenneth Popovits, a financial crimes supervisor based in Minneapolis. The surveillance team logged 219 vehicles in the vicinity, identifying subjects previously linked to protests during the Operation Midway Blitz period. ## Broader Investigation Scope The April 2 surveillance was part of a federal conspiracy investigation into 15 activists facing felony charges in Minnesota. Remarks made by defendant Callum Robinet during the Bridgeport talk were later included in the federal indictment. This indicates that local surveillance data directly contributed to the ongoing prosecution of the Minnesota activists. ## National Monitoring Patterns HSI reports reveal that the agency monitored similar Crimethinc tour events in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Seattle, Washington. Local HSI agents in those regions conducted in-person surveillance and reported speech contents back to Minneapolis investigators. This suggests a coordinated national effort to track specific activist networks across multiple state jurisdictions. ## Civil Liberties Concerns The ACLU of Illinois criticized the surveillance as troubling, arguing that constitutionally protected activity should not trigger law enforcement infiltration. Experts suggest this incident necessitates a reexamination of local participation in federal task forces. The case underscores ongoing tensions regarding the intersection of local policing and federal political surveillance mandates. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.wired.com/story/chicago-area-cops-helped-hsi-spy-on-minnesota-anti-ice-activists/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._