--- title: "DHS investigated Minnesota left-wing groups after Border Patrol killed Alex Pretti" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/dhs-investigated-minnesota-left-wing-groups-after-border-patrol-killed-alex-pret" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/dhs-investigated-minnesota-left-wing-groups-after-border-patrol-killed-alex-pret" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/dhs-investigated-minnesota-left-wing-groups-after-border-patrol-killed-alex-pret.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/dhs-investigated-minnesota-left-wing-groups-after-border-patrol-killed-alex-pret" category: "Conflict & Security" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-13T21:05:31.083Z" source_reported: "2026-08-13T20:18:08.000Z" updated: "2026-08-13T21:05:31.083Z" trust_score: 78 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 35 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-13T21:31:45.782Z" --- # DHS investigated Minnesota left-wing groups after Border Patrol killed Alex Pretti *Agents infiltrated Signal chats, recorded meetings, and obtained financial records of unions and activists* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 78 of 100, higher is better. Six left-rated digests corroborate the central claim; one full report adds named sources and documents. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. Quotes and named sources present; some digests lack depth. - Hype 35 of 100, lower is better. Left digests use strong language; right digest is measured. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The Department of Homeland Security launched an investigation into left-wing groups in Minnesota after Border Patrol agents shot and killed Alex Pretti during a protest in February 2026. - DHS used administrative subpoenas to obtain financial records from Sunrise Movement, Communications Workers of America, and SEIU, and infiltrated Signal chats and meetings at libraries and churches. - The investigation concluded with no evidence but led to the indictment of 15 organisers in June, citing National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 as justification. - No centre-rated outlet reported on the investigation, according to the material provided. The Department of Homeland Security opened an investigation into left-wing groups in Minnesota after Border Patrol agents shot and killed Alex Pretti during a protest in Minneapolis in February 2026. The investigation, conducted by the DHS office in St. Paul, targeted organisations including the Sunrise Movement, AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Democratic Socialists of America, and Direct Action Minnesota. The probe was launched days after Pretti’s death, which occurred as he attempted to assist a woman who had been pushed by agents during a demonstration against immigration enforcement. DHS used administrative subpoenas to obtain financial records from Sunrise Movement, Communications Workers of America, and SEIU. Undercover agents infiltrated Signal chats and attended meetings at libraries and churches, recording attendees’ comments, names, and license plate numbers. The investigation characterised protesters opposing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as "violent opportunists and agitators" and scrutinised what it termed "domestic terrorist financing." The investigation concluded without evidence but alleged a conspiracy among Twin Cities unions and nonprofits. In June 2026, 15 organisers were indicted, with US Attorney Daniel Rosen citing National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 (NSPM-7) as justification. NSPM-7, issued in September 2025, mandates a "national strategy to investigate and disrupt networks" fomenting political violence, with a focus on left-wing groups. A PowerPoint slide presented to grand jurors linked 18 groups, including the AFL-CIO and a local teachers union, to a conspiracy against ICE agents. ## What the coverage left out None of the digests or the full report mentioned the cost or resource allocation of the DHS investigation. The right-rated digest did not report the conclusion of the investigation, which found no evidence of wrongdoing, or the use of NSPM-7 to justify the indictments. No centre-rated outlet ran the story at all, according to the material provided. ## Who covered it Shares of the 14 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 86% (12) - Centre: 7% (1) - Right: 7% (1) 0 of 14 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-13T21:31:45.782Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 11 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-14T00:00:32.684Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - All six left-rated digests and the full report from Common Dreams led on the scope of the surveillance and its targeting of First Amendment-protected activity. The Common Dreams report quoted US Senator Chris Van Hollen calling the investigation "the actions of an authoritarian state" and cited the lawyer who filed the court motion, Kevin Riach, describing the probe as "a disturbing, invasive, and utterly unjustifiable attack on freedom of expression." - The left-rated reports highlighted the use of undercover agents in Signal chats and meetings at churches and libraries, and the collection of personal information such as names and license plate numbers. Common Dreams quoted Riach stating that the individuals surveilled "did nothing other than engage in protected First Amendment speech in a church meeting room." The reports also emphasised the lack of evidence linking the groups to criminal conduct, with Common Dreams quoting Riach: "It surveilled and surreptitiously gathered financial records generated by these organizations despite the lack of any connection between those organizations and criminal conduct." - The left-rated reports framed the investigation as part of a broader crackdown on dissent under the Trump administration. Common Dreams described NSPM-7 as a directive that "tramples the First Amendment in weaponizing the federal government to root out his political adversaries." The reports also quoted labour rights media organisation More Perfect Union calling the indictment of the 15 organisers "the biggest story in America" and stating that "the Trump administration's approach to dissent is to exhaust every avenue to put dissenters in federal prison." ### Centre No separate framing summary. ### Right - The single right-rated digest from the Marietta Daily Journal led on the methods used in the investigation, stating that Homeland Security investigators "secretly recorded conversations, infiltrated Signal chats and obtained financial records for labor unions and progressive groups." The digest did not mention the lack of evidence, the targeting of First Amendment-protected activity, or the political context of NSPM-7. It referred to the groups under investigation as "protesters, left-wing organizations and unions" without further characterisation. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 14 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [HuffPost](https://huffpost.com/entry/minnesota-ice-protests-surveillance_n_6a7e275ae4b087fb9a468545) — Undercover Operation Targeted Minnesota ICE Protesters, Labor Unions - [Truthout](https://truthout.org/articles/federal-agents-in-mn-opened-spying-operation-4-days-after-alex-pretti-was-shot) — Federal Agents Began Spying on Minnesota Left-Wing Groups 4 Days After Alex Pretti Was Shot - [Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/08/13/the-government-is-spying-on-its-own-citizens-again) — The government is spying on its own citizens — again - [Star Tribune](https://startribune.com/federal-agents-led-by-jan-6-participant-surveilled-minnesota-unions-in-hunt-for-antifa-conspiracy-case/601877491) — Federal agents surveilled Minnesota unions in hunt for Antifa conspiracy case - [Common Dreams](https://commondreams.org/news/trump-left-wing) — 'Outrageous': Trump Officials Investigated Left-Wing Groups After Alex Pretti Killing in Minneapolis - [mainemorningstar.com](https://mainemorningstar.com/2026/08/13/repub/documents-show-how-feds-spied-on-protesters-left-wing-organizations-and-unions-during-metro-surge) — Documents show how feds spied on protesters, left-wing organizations and unions during Metro Surge • Maine Morning Star - [Marietta Daily Journal](https://mdjonline.com/extra/news/documents-show-how-feds-spied-on-protesters-left-wing-organizations-and-unions-during-metro-surge/article_eb26ed74-db3c-5876-b3dc-c6dd2e764d56.html) — Documents show how feds spied on protesters, left-wing organizations and unions during Metro Surge - [Southernminn.com](https://southernminn.com/around_the_web/news/documents-show-how-feds-spied-on-protesters-left-wing-organizations-and-unions-during-metro-surge/article_c96e3183-c493-5bc5-9a77-061f8799b985.html) — Documents show how feds spied on protesters, left-wing organizations and unions during Metro Surge - [Grand Rapids Herald-Review](https://grandrapidsmn.com/around_the_web/news/documents-show-how-feds-spied-on-protesters-left-wing-organizations-and-unions-during-metro-surge/article_51f4eed5-6ee6-516d-8745-d358499cff36.html) — Documents show how feds spied on protesters, left-wing organizations and unions during Metro Surge - [emptywheel](https://emptywheel.net/2026/08/13/trumps-government-responded-to-murdering-alex-pretty-by-spying-on-the-entire-anti-ice-community-in-minnesota) — Trump's Government Responded to Murdering Alex Pretti by Spying on the Entire Anti-ICE Community in Minnesota - [Talking Points Memo](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/dhs-spied-on-churches-libraries-and-union-halls-in-minneapolis-protest-crackdown-defense-attorney-alleges) — DHS Spied on Churches, Libraries and Union Halls in Minneapolis Protest Crackdown, Defense Attorney Alleges - [MPR News](https://mprnews.org/story/2026/08/13/attorney-says-homeland-security-spied-on-minnesotans-who-opposed-ice) — Attorney: Homeland Security spied on Minnesotans who spoke out against ICE - [Political Wire](https://politicalwire.com/2026/08/13/homeland-security-targeted-liberal-groups) — Homeland Security Targeted Liberal Groups - [The New Republic](https://newrepublic.com/post/214340/department-homeland-security-spied-labor-unions-anti-ice-protests-minnesota) — DHS Spied on Labor Unions During Anti-ICE Protests in Minnesota ## Questions **Which groups were targeted by the DHS investigation?** The Department of Homeland Security investigated left-wing groups in Minnesota, including the Sunrise Movement, AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Democratic Socialists of America, and Direct Action Minnesota. The probe focused on organisations involved in protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents. **What methods did DHS use in the investigation?** DHS used administrative subpoenas to obtain financial records from Sunrise Movement, Communications Workers of America, and SEIU. Undercover agents infiltrated Signal chats and attended meetings at libraries and churches, recording attendees’ comments, names, and license plate numbers. The investigation concluded without evidence but led to the indictment of 15 organisers. **What was the outcome of the DHS investigation?** The investigation concluded with no evidence of wrongdoing but alleged a conspiracy among Twin Cities unions and nonprofits. In June 2026, 15 organisers were indicted under National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 (NSPM-7), a directive issued in September 2025 to investigate networks fomenting political violence, with a focus on left-wing groups. **Which outlets reported on the investigation?** Six left-rated outlets and one right-rated outlet reported on the investigation, according to the material provided. The left-rated reports emphasised the targeting of First Amendment-protected activity and the lack of evidence, while the right-rated digest focused on the methods used. No centre-rated outlet ran the story. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/conflict/dhs-investigated-minnesota-left-wing-groups-after-border-patrol-killed-alex-pret. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "DHS investigated Minnesota left-wing groups after Border Patrol killed Alex Pretti", https://mediabias.news/conflict/dhs-investigated-minnesota-left-wing-groups-after-border-patrol-killed-alex-pret