ICE Begins Arresting Protesters Who ‘Stalk’ Their Vehicles During Operations
Federal immigration officials in Minneapolis have intensified enforcement actions against civilians who follow or monitor Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, part of a broader crackdown on interference with law enforcement, according to federal sources.
The latest incident involved 42-year-old Becky Ringstrom, a mother of seven, who was detained on January 29 after trailing federal immigration officers in her vehicle through a suburban neighborhood. Verified video footage shows Ringstrom’s gray Kia SUV boxed in by unmarked vehicles, surrounded by at least six masked agents. One agent reportedly struck her windshield with a metal object before taking her into custody.
Ringstrom was transported to the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building and cited under Title 18, Section 111 of the U.S. Code, which criminalizes assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, or intimidating federal officers. The statute carries penalties of up to 20 years in prison for cases involving weapons or injury. Court records indicate Ringstrom was released after being photographed, with her information entered into a government database. A court date has not yet been set.
The case is part of a surge in federal prosecutions under Section 111, increasingly used to hold accountable activists who interfere with ICE operations. According to a Reuters review, the Trump administration has prosecuted at least 655 people under the law since last summer—a more than twofold increase from the previous year. Officials said Minnesota cases are being forwarded daily to federal prosecutors for potential charges.
Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin defended the operations, citing rising hostility toward federal officers. “Assaulting and obstructing law enforcement is a felony,” she said. “Officers used the minimum amount of force necessary to protect themselves, the public, and federal property.” McLaughlin confirmed that ICE tracks threats, assaults, and obstruction incidents, though the agency does not maintain a list of domestic terrorists.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson emphasized that President Trump supports First Amendment rights but warned that individuals who “impede law enforcement” would “be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
Ringstrom told reporters she followed the officers for roughly 45 minutes without attempting to interfere, keeping multiple car lengths behind. “I know what I’m doing is not wrong,” she said. “There was a moment where I thought I could be Renee Good,” referencing one of two U.S. citizens killed by immigration officers in Minneapolis earlier this year.
Video shows a Border Patrol agent warning Ringstrom to stop before agents swarmed her car and detained her. McLaughlin described the incident as “stalking law enforcement and attempting to obstruct law enforcement from performing their sworn duties.”
In January, a federal judge in Minneapolis ruled that following ICE vehicles at an “appropriate distance” does not justify arrest. However, an appeals court temporarily paused that ruling, leaving agents broad discretion to act against perceived obstruction.
Federal authorities argue that some civilians have crossed the line from observation to interference, reportedly blocking vehicles, following officers for extended periods, or broadcasting live streams revealing agent locations. “When agitators willingly involve themselves in law enforcement operations, they are risking arrest as well as jeopardizing the safety of themselves and those around them,” McLaughlin said.
The Justice Department maintains that arrests like Ringstrom’s are lawful under federal statute, though critics contend criminalizing observation infringes on constitutional freedoms.
For now, the government’s message is clear: those who choose to impede or endanger federal officers face serious consequences. As McLaughlin warned, “If you choose to impede or endanger our officers, expect to be arrested.”