MINNEAPOLIS — In an undercover field investigation this week, conservative activist and journalist James O’Keefe and his O’Keefe Media Group (OMG) team embedded themselves inside a large network of protesters in Minneapolis opposing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.
Through the use of hidden cameras and direct, on-the-ground reporting, O’Keefe’s team captured admissions from participants about the organizations supporting and funding the demonstrations — which in several cases shifted from peaceful protest into lawlessness.
The operation took place against the backdrop of ongoing unrest in Minneapolis following federal actions by ICE and the Department of Homeland Security. Tensions are exceptionally high after a fatal shooting involving a Border Patrol agent and an armed anti-ICE activist, which has triggered widespread protests and national attention.
The undercover investigation, as detailed by O’Keefe and corroborated through social media posts and video interviews, revealed that several nonprofit and activist networks played coordinating roles in organizing the anti-ICE protests.
O’KEEFE UNDERCOVER INSIDE THE MINNESOTA MOB: AGITATORS ADMIT ON HIDDEN CAMERA WHO’S FUNDING THE PROTESTS
Our team uncovered groups like the “Independent Socialist Group” and “Make the Road” are funding Minneapolis agitators — all while we were chased, teargassed, and threatened… pic.twitter.com/S0jwPVDGlr
— James O’Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) January 27, 2026
Among those named by agitators were labor union affiliates and advocacy organizations such as the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Make the Road New York, and the Independent Socialist Group. These organizations, according to admissions captured on hidden camera, provided logistical support, communication networks, and (in some cases) funding or material aid to protestors.
One protest participant, identified on video as Peggy Wang, allegedly told an undercover journalist, “We’re… an international organization fighting ICE.” While such statements reflect an individual’s perspective, they offer insight into how some on the ground describe their affiliations.
In addition to documenting funding networks, O’Keefe and his crew reported significant hostility from protesters toward journalists and outsiders. According to posts on X and video accounts referenced by multiple conservative outlets, the team was surrounded, chased, and subjected to thrown projectiles, including bottles of ice. Protesters allegedly accused them of being “feds” and refused to acknowledge their credentials as members of the press.
O’Keefe described the crowd’s reaction as not simply antagonistic but organized. In an urgent update posted on X, he asserted that protestors appeared to have spotters throughout the city — even near local hotels — and that his team was followed back to their accommodations after their identities became known.
Death Threat Shared Online
O’Keefe also shared what he described as a texted death threat, in which an unidentified individual named his vehicle and warned the journalists to leave Minneapolis within one hour or face fatal consequences.
The confrontation underscores broader concerns among conservative commentators about the safety of journalists and public order in areas where large, loosely affiliated protest movements have taken control of public spaces.
While the hidden camera footage is central to O’Keefe’s report, it has not been independently verified by mainstream outlets as of press time. Still, the demonstrations themselves are widely covered by multiple news agencies, and the broader dispute about immigration enforcement in Minnesota has become a flashpoint in national politics.
On the ground in Minneapolis, federal law enforcement has continued to enforce immigration laws as directed by the current administration. President Trump and senior officials have publicly rebuked local politicians — particularly Democratic leaders — for what they describe as lax responses to escalating protests and obstruction of federal law enforcement activities.
Threats to deploy additional federal assets, including possible invocation of the Insurrection Act, have been floated in official statements, reflecting the severity of the situation.
Nevertheless, local leaders maintain that they support peaceful protest and criticize federal tactics, describing them as overly aggressive. Notably, some protest organizers have received public backing from state political figures, which further stokes controversy.
Critics of the Minneapolis unrest, including many conservative analysts, argue that the protests are less about genuine community concerns and more about organized political agitation. The undercover admissions highlighted by O’Keefe’s team — particularly those from representatives of activist groups and nonprofit organizations — are being cited by commentators as evidence that broader networks, rather than spontaneous grassroots activism, are driving the demonstrations.
Supporters of federal law enforcement emphasize that ICE and DHS agents are carrying out legally sanctioned operations and that obstruction or intimidation of those agents undermines the rule of law. This perspective insists that peaceful protest must not cross into actions that endanger public safety, disrupt lawful enforcement, or target journalists covering events.
As the story continues to develop, both on the ground in Minneapolis and across national political discourse, O’Keefe’s undercover findings are likely to fuel further debate over the role of activist networks in shaping protest movements, the limits of free expression, and the safety of law enforcement personnel tasked with upholding federal statutes.
Keywords
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James O’Keefe
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Minnesota protests
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anti-ICE agitators
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undercover investigation
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O’Keefe Media Group
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federal law enforcement
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lawless demonstrations
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X social media posts