ICE is cracking down on people who follow them in their cars

The Trump administration has sharply increased federal prosecutions against people who follow or harass ICE agents during operations.

Since last summer's targeted immigration enforcement actions, prosecutors charged at least 655 individuals nationwide under Title 18, Section 111.

This law criminalizes forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, or interfering with federal officers on duty.

The total more than doubles prosecutions from the prior comparable period.

Many cases involve drivers tailing ICE vehicles, which authorities label as stalking and obstruction.

ICE maintains an internal database logging names, photos, license plates, locations, and suspicious actions of suspected protesters to detect patterns warranting charges.

In Minnesota alone, officials refer several cases daily to federal prosecutors.

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated, "Assaulting and obstructing law enforcement is a felony."

She added that officers "used the minimum amount of force necessary to protect themselves, the public, and federal property."

Verified videos show agents drawing weapons on vehicles that followed them.

DHS described these as responses to stalking, reckless driving, attempted ramming, or hand gestures suggesting firearms.

In some encounters, officers ran plates and led followers home, with one official admitting the tactic aims "to freak them out."

Another incident involved ignored warnings, followed by pepper spray and a smashed window to effect arrest.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson affirmed protection of First Amendment rights but insisted those impeding law enforcement "will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law."