case of monitoring It raised alarm bells among civil rights advocates after it became known that Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBIfor its abbreviation in English) He would have had access to the encrypted communications of activists who conducted surveillance in immigration courts. The facts came to light through government documents revealed by federal authorities Classifying activities as dangerous Citizens may exercise their right to attend public hearings.
This information was made public through records obtained by People’s Ownership, an organization dedicated to government transparency. Guardian These results were published Demonstrate federal actions in digital spaces that are considered safe.
The documents are consistent with a joint report prepared by the FBI and… New York Police Department (NYPDfor its abbreviation in English) through August 2025. Includes classified materials Text fragments extracted from conversations conducted by the Court Watch NYC groupa group of volunteers who monitor public immigration hearings, On the Signal platform.
This application is known worldwide for implementing encryption systems that prevent messages from being read by third parties, including the operators of the platform itself.
The material was used for Classifying them as “violent extremist anarchist actors”without evidence of illegal activities, according to Guardian. Etiquette was based on conversations where participants exchanged operational information for entering public hearing rooms and Document procedures involving immigration agents.
The released document cited a “sensitive source with excellent access” to the Signal chat. Description Suggests the possibility of a participant Shared screenshots or messages, the presence of an informant, or access to an unlocked device.
The agency did not explain the details of the mechanisms used. Given the type of encryption present on the platform, the most likely method of access It may involve direct intervention from a group member Or tamper with their devices
the The quotes collected by the FBI come from a virtual session It was held at the end of May, where Volunteers discussed organizing monitors at three immigration courts in Manhattan. The conversation also pointed out the importance of recording photos of customers and the internal locations of establishments. These practices are a regular part of Public monitoring initiatives They are developed within the margins allowed by the governing regulations Immigration hearings
The report he received Guardian He added that one of the people instructed the participants to resort to violence against the police authorities. The text does not include material to support this claim. The characterization raised questions among civil rights specialists He warned of the danger of attributing “extremism” to common practices As part of citizen participation.
New York City Court Watch I mentioned that Only share links to your Signal channels with pre-trained people This preserves Internal agreements not to publish information Which identifies the people involved in these cases. “We stand in solidarity with the immigration court watch groups affected by this infiltration and who have come under attack for supporting our neighbors in confronting state violence in the courts,” they posted in Instagram.
The organization explained that its presence in court It seeks to monitor institutional practices and provide records of them Attitudes affecting immigrant communities. “We are a group of volunteers bringing New Yorkers into publicly accessible courtrooms across the city as empathetic witnesses to the harm the incarcerated state causes,” they added.
Brad LanderNew York City Comptroller and participant in judicial oversight activities, He linked this practice to the historical tactics of the Federal Intelligence Agency. He said that intervention in civil groups is reminiscent of operations carried out in previous decades against social movements.
“Monitoring immigration court hearings It is a legal and non-violent act“Unlike the ICE kidnappings that we have been seeing regularly for months outside of court.” Guardian. “Surveillance and intimidation by Trump’s corrupt Justice Department They will not prevent us from being there to protect our neighbors and the rule of lawHe confirmed.
Other analysts pointed out that FBI actions It is part of the trend of classifying public activities as Security threats. In this case, monitoring judicial processes is presented as a risk even though it is Open hearingsWhere anyone can enter without prior registration.
“Basic civic engagement does not constitute a terrorist threat“, He said Ryan ShapiroCEO of People’s Ownership. “The FBI’s treatment of it in this way is another example of the Trump regime’s profound disregard for even the most basic democratic freedoms,” he said.
he Use information from an encrypted conversation For surveillance purposes, it has raised concerns among those working to defend immigrant rights. Labeling observers as extremists can discourage basic citizen control activities.
“There is a significant risk of intimidating and undermining these types of private discussion environments,” he said. Spencer Reynoldsa civil liberties advocate and former senior intelligence advisor at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Reynolds pointed this out These processes may be conditional on the exercise of civil rights.