Minneapolis church accuses feds of violating court order with undercover agents

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - A Minneapolis church says the federal government violated a court order — sending undercover Department of Homeland Security agents to surveil the church campus during and after Operation Metro Surge.

Court documents filed last week show undercover federal agents conducted surveillance on churches, labor unions and activists organizing and attending anti-ICE protests. The motion, filed by Attorney Kevin Riach, includes Department of Homeland Security reports on investigations called "Operation Puppet Master" and "Project Whipple Shield."

Riach is representing Isaac Sant, one of the 15 people federally indicted and accused of conspiracy to impede or injure federal officers. They’ve all pleaded not guilty. The reports made public Thursday were part of a discovery filing in Sant’s case.

DHS says the goal was to crack down on "violent opportunists" and "assaults against federal officers."

Surveillance inside the sanctuary

What we know:

According to court documents, members of University Baptist Church were shocked to learn undercover agents had been at the church investigating several times between April and June — on at least one occasion going inside wearing a wire and recording. DHS reports from Sant’s motion last week describe an undercover agent attending a May 28th self-defense class taught inside the basement of the church.

But in February, a Massachusetts judge deemed University Baptist Church a "protected area" where immigration enforcement is not allowed. Now, in newly filed court documents, University Baptist Church and other churches around the country are accusing the federal government of violating that court order, and asking the court to force the federal government to hand over any other DHS reports involving UBC.

One University Baptist Church leader wrote: "This is a complete violation of our sacred space. The Church is meant to be a place of sanctuary and safety — not infiltration by government agents."

According to the documents that are currently public, undercover agents were present at meetings and inside churches as late as June 11.

What we don't know:

FOX 9 reached out to church leaders at University Baptist Church for an interview but did not hear back. A DHS spokesperson said in an email to FOX 9: "HSI does not comment on the existence or status of specific on-going investigations, nor on investigative methods."

Churches push back, say faith won't be silenced

What they're saying:

The reports show an undercover agent attended a December organizing meeting inside First Universalist Church Minneapolis, led by the leftist group Sunrise Movement.

Rev. Jennifer Crow of First Universalist Church Minneapolis says the surveillance is an overreach. 

"We're trying to practice our very basic religious freedom," said Crow.

She says the church wasn't aware of the undercover presence until the court documents were released last week. 

"We're not surprised, but we weren't aware of it until these files were released," said Crow. "Even though this has become the norm, it's not normal, and we shouldn't accept it as normal."

For Crow, the moment is a call to action.

"This clarifies for us the importance of living our faith out loud," said Crow.

Minneapolis