Federal Agents Accused of Impersonating Construction Workers, Delivery Drivers in Minnesota

Tactics raise concerns about public trust and constitutional violations, say legal observers

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Federal immigration agents have been accused of impersonating construction workers, delivery drivers, and even anti-ICE activists in Minnesota as part of an ongoing crackdown, raising concerns about public trust and potential constitutional violations. Local officials and legal observers say the agents have been spotted swapping license plates, using bogus ones, and dressing in disguises to avoid detection by a network of citizen observers tracking their movements.

Why it matters

These tactics by federal immigration agents have heightened fears in Minnesota, a state already on edge due to the sweeping immigration enforcement actions. Legal groups say the deception is an attempt to 'control a populace' rather than conduct routine law enforcement, and it could erode public trust in authorities. There are also concerns the disguises violate constitutional protections against warrantless home raids.

The details

Encounters like one involving Luis Ramirez, a 31-year-old who confronted two men in construction worker disguise outside his family's Mexican restaurant, have become increasingly common. Legal observers and officials say they have received growing reports of federal agents impersonating various workers, including construction crews, delivery drivers, and even anti-ICE activists. While not all incidents have been verified, they have heightened fears in Minnesota. Immigration authorities have used such 'ruses' in the past to gain entry into homes without a warrant, but the scale and brazenness of the current tactics appear to be a 'more extreme degree' than before.

  • On January 13, an antiques dealer in Minneapolis witnessed two men in street clothes examining her store's collection of vintage license plates, raising suspicions they were federal agents seeking to obtain bogus plates.
  • In recent weeks, federal agents have repeatedly shown up to construction sites in Minnesota dressed as workers, according to a local immigrant rights organizer.

The players

Luis Ramirez

A 31-year-old who confronted two men in construction worker disguise outside his family's Mexican restaurant in suburban Minneapolis.

Naureen Shah

The director of immigration advocacy at the American Civil Liberties Union, who says the tactics are an attempt to 'control a populace' rather than conduct routine law enforcement.

Jose Alvillar

A lead organizer for the local immigrant rights group Unidos MN, who has observed an increase in 'cowboy tactics' by federal agents impersonating construction workers.

Candice Metrailer

An antiques dealer in south Minneapolis who believes she witnessed federal agents attempting to obtain vintage license plates for use in their undercover operations.

Scott Mechkowski

A former deputy director of ICE enforcement and operations in New York City, who says the tactics are a response to the 'obstruction and interference' by a 'volunteer army of ICE-tracking activists' in Minneapolis.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“If you have people afraid that the electrical worker outside their house might be ICE, you're inviting public distrust and confusion on a much more dangerous level. This is what you do if you're trying to control a populace, not trying to do routine, professional law enforcement.”

— Naureen Shah, Director of immigration advocacy, American Civil Liberties Union (Fortune)

“We've seen an increase in the cowboy tactics. Construction workers are good at identifying who is a real construction worker and who is dressing up as one.”

— Jose Alvillar, Lead organizer, Unidos MN (Fortune)

“Of course agents are adapting their tactics so that they're a step ahead. We've never seen this level of obstruction and interference.”

— Scott Mechkowski, Former deputy director of ICE enforcement and operations, New York City (Fortune)

What’s next

Minnesota's attorney general is investigating the reported incidents of federal agents impersonating construction workers, delivery drivers, and anti-ICE activists.

The takeaway

The aggressive and deceptive tactics used by federal immigration agents in Minnesota have eroded public trust, raised constitutional concerns, and prompted a crackdown by state authorities. This highlights the growing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and local communities seeking to protect immigrant rights.