DHS Criticizes MS NOW for Highlighting Group Monitoring Immigration Operations

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has strongly criticized MS NOW after a segment on the program "Connect with Jacob Soboroff" highlighted an activist group that trains "ICE Watch" volunteers to monitor federal immigration operations and is now redirecting some of its efforts toward election-related activities.

During a Saturday broadcast, host Jacob Soboroff discussed reports about activists who previously observed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations and are now shifting their focus to election-related events. MS NOW described the shift in a synopsis, stating, "ICE watchers once alerted neighbors about the presence of federal agents, now they are protecting the polls."

Soboroff's segment featured Zachary Mueller, a senior strategist for States at the Core, a nonprofit organization that describes its work as opposing what it considers authoritarianism and offers training in both ICE monitoring and election protection. The segment referenced reporting from "The Intercept" regarding activists preparing to monitor polling locations.

DHS responded to the report by emphasizing the risks and threats faced by immigration officers, asserting that tools used to track federal agents could endanger law enforcement personnel and disrupt operations. A DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital, "Shame on MS NOW for promoting efforts to undermine those who keep our communities and streets safe from illegal alien crime." The spokesperson added that "ICE tracking apps put the lives of the men and women of law enforcement in danger as they go after terrorists, vicious gangs and violent criminal rings."

DHS cited a significant increase in assaults against ICE personnel. According to department figures, there were 647 assaults between January 20, 2025, and September 20, 2026, a 1,649% rise compared to 37 assaults during the corresponding period under the previous administration. The department also reported increases in vehicle attacks and death threats against its officers.

States at the Core announced in March that tens of thousands of Americans had participated in its ICE Watch training. The organization subsequently launched "Beyond ICE Watch," aiming to broaden community organizing beyond immigration enforcement monitoring. In September, the group advertised training sessions that adapted ICE Watch techniques for the midterm elections, including documenting activities in communities and around elections.

In February, States at the Core co-founder Jill Garvey trained volunteers on the "SALUTE" observation method—an acronym for size, activity, location, uniform, time, and equipment—for documenting federal immigration personnel. The FBI has also been investigating alleged Signal groups used by anti-ICE activists for tracking, identifying, and potentially impeding federal law enforcement officers, with FBI Director Kash Patel stating that investigations would determine if such coordination violated federal law.

The DHS spokesperson reiterated concerns about messaging that encourages resistance to immigration enforcement, calling it "irresponsible and dismissive of the victims and families who have suffered because of crimes committed by criminal illegal aliens." The statement concluded, "Assaulting and obstructing ICE law enforcement is a crime and felony. Anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."