Federal immigration agents in Minnesota are reportedly using elaborate disguises and deceptive tactics, posing as utility workers and construction crews while conducting enforcement operations in Minneapolis neighborhoods.

Restaurant Owner Exposes Suspected Surveillance

Luis Ramirez, who owns a Mexican restaurant in suburban Minneapolis, became suspicious of men dressed as utility workers stationed outside his business for several days. The individuals wore pristine white hard hats and high-visibility vests even while sitting in their vehicles. When Ramirez searched for the Wisconsin-based electrician company advertised on their car doors, no results appeared. His confrontation with the suspected agents was captured on video, where he accused federal authorities of wasting taxpayer money on rental vehicles with fake identification tags.

It doesn't always work. In the video below, Luis Ramirez confronts two men dressed as utility workers who'd been parked outside his family's Mexican restaurant. "I never seen a worker wear his hard hat in the car before," he told us. https://t.co/KG9h1jaCi1 pic.twitter.com/ROzrnCAjgZ

— Jake Offenhartz (@jangelooff) February 8, 2026

The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement declined to respond to inquiries about whether these individuals were federal immigration officers. However, similar encounters have become increasingly frequent across the Minneapolis area, raising concerns about the scope and methods of current enforcement operations.

Construction Sites and Antique Shops Targeted

Jose Alvillar, a lead organizer for Unidos MN, an immigrant rights group, reports federal agents have repeatedly appeared at construction sites dressed as workers. He describes these as increased aggressive tactics, though the operations have not resulted in arrests. Construction workers have become adept at identifying authentic workers from those in costume. At the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, Minneapolis’ main ICE facility, activists observed agents departing in vehicles decorated with stuffed animals on dashboards, Mexican flag decals on bumpers, and pickups loaded with lumber or tools.

Constitutional and Public Safety Concerns

Candice Metrailer, a South Minneapolis antiques dealer, believes she witnessed an attempted deception when two men inquired about recent license plates at her store, rather than vintage collectibles. She noticed an idling Ford Explorer with blacked-out windows nearby and recorded its license plate number. Civil liberties advocates warn that these tactics create dangerous public distrust. Naureen Shah from the American Civil Liberties Union argues that when citizens fear electrical workers might be immigration agents, it undermines professional law enforcement and resembles population control methods rather than legitimate police work.