Minneapolis Teachers Union Leader Says Elected Officials Join Anti-ICE Signal Chats Used for Community Monitoring

Union president describes encrypted messaging groups used to track immigration enforcement activity

Marcia Howard, a leader of the Minneapolis teachers union, said in a televised interview that elected officials and supervisors participate in encrypted Signal chat groups used to share information about federal immigration enforcement activity in the Twin Cities.

In the interview, Howard described a network of residents who use Signal to communicate about “ICE watch” activity, including sharing observations while patrolling in vehicles and monitoring their neighborhoods. She said the participants include teachers and other community members, and she added that “bosses” and “elected officials” are also in the chats.

What was disclosed, and what remains unclear

Howard’s comments indicated that the chats are not limited to private citizens and may include public-sector employees and elected leaders. However, no names of participating officials were provided in the interview excerpts reviewed by Minneapolis.news, and it is not clear how many officials are involved, whether they are city, county, state, or federal officeholders, or what role—if any—they play inside the groups.

It also remains unclear whether the chats focus solely on observing and reporting activity, or whether participants take steps intended to disrupt federal law enforcement operations. Howard characterized the activity as “protecting our neighbors” and described a range of participants beyond union members.

• Howard said the network communicates in Signal chats related to “ICE watch.”
• She said elected officials and supervisors participate in those chats.
• She described community patrols and the sharing of vehicle information as part of the monitoring activity.

Union leadership role and public profile

Howard is listed in union and labor materials as a leader within the Minneapolis Federation of Educators Local 59, representing the teacher chapter. Separate biographical listings describe her as a longtime English teacher at Roosevelt High School and as an activist associated with George Floyd Square.

“Our bosses are in the Signal chats with us. Our elected officials are in the chats with us,” Howard said in the interview.

Why the disclosure matters

The assertion that elected officials participate in encrypted chats centered on immigration enforcement raises questions about transparency and boundaries between constituent advocacy, government oversight, and potential interference with federal operations. Signal is widely used for private communications, but its end-to-end encryption can limit public visibility into how information is shared and acted on—particularly if public officials are participants.

No public documentation was identified that confirms which officials Howard referenced or what policies, if any, govern their participation in such groups. Minneapolis.news did not identify an on-the-record response from the union addressing specific questions about the chats, including whether elected officials are acting in an official capacity when they participate.

Next questions likely to shape the story

Key unresolved issues include the identities of the public officials involved, whether any public resources are used in connection with the activity, and whether participation creates conflicts with laws or ethics rules governing official conduct. Further reporting will also focus on whether the chats are tied to any organized groups, and how information shared within them is verified before being circulated.