This isn’t what most workers think they’re signing up for when they join a union.
In response to raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol, activist networks have formed in Minneapolis to monitor federal activity and try to stop ICE enforcement actions. These networks use encrypted messaging apps like Signal to share real-time information about ICE movements, including vehicle locations.
The president of the Minneapolis Federation of Educators, the local teachers’ union, publicly acknowledged that union leaders, elected officials, and community members are participating in these Signal chat groups — what some activists call “ICE watch” — to track federal enforcement activity, share updates, and coordinate activist responses.
Some reports also indicate that federal authorities, including the FBI, have opened an investigation into encrypted group chats connected to anti‑ICE activist networks in the region.
At AFFT, we are concerned about transparency, member consent, and whether union leadership actions extend beyond the core mission of representing workers in the workplace.
“Union members deserve disclosure about whether their leadership is participating in political or activist activity in ways that carry legal and reputational risk — especially when those activities fall outside collective bargaining and workplace representation.”
— Chip Rogers, CEO
We are directing these questions to major teachers’ unions, including the Minneapolis Federation of Educators, National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT):
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Were your members informed that union leadership is participating in encrypted “ICE watch” groups tracking federal enforcement activity?
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Do these activities align with your stated mission of representing and advocating for teachers in the workplace, or do they fall outside your core responsibilities?
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Are you prepared to address the potential legal and reputational risks these actions pose to dues‑paying teachers?
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How do you justify union leadership engaging in political or activist efforts without full disclosure or consent from the membership?
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Will the unions commit to transparency and accountability to ensure that members’ trust and dues are not used for activities beyond workplace representation?