FBI Director Patel investigates Minneapolis Signal chats tracking ICE agents

FBI Director Kash Patel announced on Jan. 26, 2026, that he opened an investigation into Signal group chats used by Minnesota residents to share information about federal immigration agents. Patel stated he launched the probe immediately after conservative journalist Cam Higby posted a viral thread on X claiming he 'infiltrated' the groups. This investigation came just two days after federal agents fatally shot Alex Pretti, and 19 days after they killed Renee Good during Operation Metro Surge.

The Signal chats that triggered the FBI investigation shared publicly observable information including license plate numbers of suspected federal vehicles, agent locations in Minneapolis neighborhoods, and coordinated observers to document ICE arrests. Higby's thread, which received 20 million views, described a system where 'commuters' were dispatched to follow vehicles and groups approached a 1,000-user limit with dozens joining live calls.

Patel explicitly threatened arrests during an interview on Benny Johnson's podcast, stating: 'We immediately opened up that investigation because that sort of Signal chat being coordinated with individuals, not just locally in Minnesota, but maybe even around the country - if that leads to a break in the federal statute or a violation of some law, then we are going to arrest people.' This public announcement of an ongoing investigation is unusual and has drawn criticism as an intimidation tactic.

Aaron Terr, Director of Public Advocacy at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), challenged the legal basis of the investigation, stating: 'There does not appear to be any lawful basis for this investigation. The First Amendment generally protects the publication of legally-obtained information, including much of what the Trump administration has labeled doxxing. That protection extends to using an app to share information about ICE activity.' Terr emphasized the Constitution takes precedence over 'any official's desire to suppress speech they dislike.'

During the same interview where he announced the investigation, Patel made a factually incorrect claim about gun laws, stating: 'You cannot bring a firearm loaded with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want.' This statement directly contradicted Minnesota law. The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus responded that Patel's claim was 'completely incorrect on Minnesota law' and that 'there is no prohibition on a permit holder carrying a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines at a protest or rally in Minnesota.'

Minnesota is not among the 16 states that prohibit concealed or open carry at demonstrations, protests, or licensed public gatherings, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Minnesota law allows individuals with a permit to carry guns in public, concealed or not, including at protests. Licensed firearm owners are even permitted to bring guns into Minnesota's Capitol building. This context matters because federal agents cited alleged firearm violations to justify killing Alex Pretti.

The FBI investigation targets community activity that began after two civilians were killed by federal agents during Operation Metro Surge: Renee Good on Jan. 7, 2026, and Alex Pretti on Jan. 24, 2026. Both were U.S. citizens. The Signal chats emerged as residents organized to document and observe federal enforcement operations that had resulted in over 3,000 arrests since Dec. 2025. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara stated that Pretti 'appears' to have been 'exercising his First Amendment rights to record law enforcement activity, and also exercising his Second Amendment rights to lawfully be armed in a public space.'