January 27, 2026
A retired U.S. Army Special Forces warrant officer with counterinsurgency experience in Iraq and Afghanistan has characterized the coordinated anti-ICE activist networks operating in Minneapolis as exhibiting the hallmarks of an organized insurgency rather than spontaneous protest activity.
Eric Schwalm, a retired U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret who held the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4, Zero Hedge posted his analysis on X (formerly Twitter) on January 25, drawing on his experience conducting counterinsurgency operations overseas.
“What’s unfolding in Minneapolis right now isn’t ‘protest.’ It’s low-level insurgency infrastructure, built by people who’ve clearly studied the playbook,” Schwalm wrote.
Military Parallels
Schwalm cited specific organizational elements he observed that mirror insurgent networks he encountered during combat deployments. “From Anbar to Helmand, the pattern is familiar: spotters, cutouts, dead drops (or modern equivalents), disciplined comms, role specialization, and a willingness to absorb casualties while bleeding the stronger force slowly,” Patriot Command Center he wrote.
The veteran’s assessment aligns with reporting from multiple outlets documenting the structure of anti-ICE “Rapid Response Networks” in the Twin Cities.
Documented Network Structure
A Fox News Digital investigation corroborated key elements of Schwalm’s analysis. The encrypted Signal messages obtained by Fox News Digital in real time show that anti-ICE “rapid responders” were actively tracking, broadcasting and summoning “backup” around federal agents outside Glam Doll Donuts on Nicollet Avenue, where the shooting happened. Fox News
Local “rapid responders” made at least 26 entries into a database called “MN ICE Plates” in the critical hours before and after the killing, documenting the license plate numbers and details of alleged ICE vehicles they claimed to see around Nicollet Avenue. Zero Hedge
According to reporting from The Post Millennial, the network has “a data collection team [that] collects anonymized data submitted from Whipple Watch and many of the local rapid response chats, aggregating them into consumable formats, such as interactive maps of hotspots.” The Post Millennial The network also maintains a “searchable database of license plates sorted by ‘confirmed ICE,’ ‘suspected ICE,’ ‘confirmed not ICE.'” The Post Millennial
FBI Opens Investigation
FBI Director Kash Patel announced the bureau opened an investigation after independent journalist Cam Higby posted a viral thread on X that said people were using the encrypted messaging app to share information about agents’ movements. Fox News
Higby’s thread got 20 million views and focused on how the groups share such information as the license plate numbers of suspected federal vehicles. NBC News has not verified Higby’s claims. NBC News
Higby describes spending several days undercover deep within left-wing activist Signal groups that coordinate pressure campaigns against ICE agents. He notes that members use emojis to designate their specific roles and responsibilities. Zero Hedge
Command and Control Structure
Schwalm identified specific elements in his post that he said demonstrated sophisticated operational planning: Signal groups capped at 1,000 members per zone, dedicated roles including mobile chasers and plate checkers, 24/7 dispatch nodes, and SALUTE-style reporting—a military format for reporting enemy activity that covers Size, Activity, Location, Unit, Time, and Equipment.
“When your own citizens build and operate this level of parallel intelligence and rapid-response network against federal officers—complete with doxxing, vehicle pursuits, and harassment that’s already turned lethal—you’re no longer dealing with civil disobedience,” Patriot Command Center Schwalm wrote. “You’re facing a distributed resistance that’s learned the lessons of successful insurgencies: stay below the kinetic threshold most of the time, force over-reaction when possible, maintain popular support through narrative, and never present a single center of gravity.” Patriot Command Center
First Amendment Concerns
The investigation has drawn concern from civil liberties advocates. “There are legitimate reasons to share such information, including enabling members of the public to observe and document law enforcement activity and to hold officials accountable for misconduct,” said Aaron Terr Fox News of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.
Terr said the government does not get to “balance” the First Amendment against its other interests. “The Constitution takes precedence over any conflicting state or federal law, and over any official’s desire to suppress speech they dislike,” NBC News he stated.
Context
The activist networks have formed in response to Operation Metro Surge, which has sent more than 3,000 federal immigration personnel to Minneapolis since December. NBC News In January 2026, Minneapolis was the site of three separate shootings involving federal immigration agents, Wikipedia including the deaths of Renée Good on January 7 and Alex Pretti on January 24.
“I spent years training partner forces to dismantle exactly this kind of apparatus,” Patriot Command Center Schwalm concluded. “Now pieces of it are standing up in American cities, enabled by elements of local government and civil society.” Patriot Command Center
Note: Eric Schwalm’s military credentials as listed on LinkedIn show him as a Retired Army Special Forces Warrant Officer (CW4) LinkedIn based in Kingston, Georgia. His claims about the organizational structure of the Minneapolis networks reflect his professional assessment and have not been independently verified by law enforcement.