Inside Minneapolis’s ICE Watch Network

 In Minneapolis, a protest group called Defend the 612 has been involved in monitoring and opposing federal immigration enforcement actions. The situation escalated tragically when two individuals actively engaged in "ICE watching" were shot and killed by immigration agents. This summary explores the group's activities, the training they provide, and the implications of their actions.

• Recent Violence: In January 2026, Alex Pretti and Renée Good, both involved in anti-ICE activities, were killed by federal agents. Their involvement in "ICE watching" placed them in confrontational situations with armed authorities.

• Defend the 612's Role: The organization facilitates a vast network for activists to track and protest ICE operations. Utilizing encrypted messaging, they conduct training sessions to prepare members on how to document, protest, and disrupt immigration enforcement.

• Training Content: Training sessions often entail tactics for challenging ICE operations, including strategies to “cost them money” and impede their actions. Content from these trainings blends legal advice with calls for direct confrontation.

• Outreach and Recruitment: Following Good's death, Defend the 612 capitalized on the incident for recruitment, which was evident when the group reported a surge in new sign-ups after an emergency vigil.

• Use of Technology: The organization employs Signal for communication, creating a structured and secretive system for activists to share information and organize responses.

• Escalation of Tactics: In the group's communication channels, members discuss various forms of active resistance, framed as necessary for supporting their local community. This includes potential legal consequences and encouraging disruptive behavior towards federal agents.

• Media Strategy: Within their discussions, members articulated the need for controlling the narrative surrounding their actions, sometimes referring to their media interactions as “propaganda. ”

• High-Stakes Environment: The strategies promoted by Defend the 612 come with significant risks, as seen in the lethal incidents involving Good and Pretti. Activists face danger when they confront armed federal agents, leading to intense and potentially catastrophic encounters.

• Continuing Activities: Rather than reassess their actions in light of these tragedies, Defend the 612 has stepped up its activities, encouraging more community involvement and continuing their confrontational tactics against ICE.

Defend the 612's aggressive tactics against federal immigration enforcement reflect a broader conflict about immigration policy and civil resistance in the U. S. The deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti underscore the peril inherent in these confrontations and raise questions about the safety and legality of the group’s approach. Instead of retreating, the group seems to leverage these tragedies to galvanize supporters and intensify their activities, suggesting an ongoing cycle of confrontation and escalation in Minneapolis.

https://www.city-journal.org/article/minneapolis-ice-watch-protests-defend-612