Who Are the Domestic Terrorists?
by Crystal Saunders, Indivisible 1431
The U.S. Criminal Code 18 2331 (5) states that domestic terrorism depicts those engaging in activities that are (1) dangerous to human life and are violations of the criminal laws of the U.S. (2) activities which appear to intend to intimidate or coerce a civilian population (3) an attempt to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion or (4) affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping. The FBI defines domestic terrorism on its website as Americans who commit violence to achieve their goals that stem from domestic, extremist ideological influences, and lack foreign direction or influence (“Domestic Terrorism: Definitions, Terminology, and Methodology”).
A recent decree by Donald Trump expands the definition of domestic terrorism to include people who oppose the right-wing extremist agenda of the Trump regime. The regime, using the guise of purging the U.S. of illegal immigrants, seeks to advance its takeover of U.S. democratic institutions.
To accomplish this takeover, the Trump regime relies heavily on ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) headed by Kristi Noem with support from Stephen Miller. Noem and Miller have expanded ICE (using taxpayer dollars) into a paramilitary force used to terrorize and persecute Americans deemed undesirable by the Trump regime. The original premise Trump campaigned on was to rid the U.S. of illegal immigrants considered dangerous (drug runners, gang members, those involved in various illegal activities, etc.)
However, this roundup quickly became a problem. There were only so many immigrants matching that description. Once the Trump regime had rounded up this group and sent them to foreign countries (without due process) they began to have trouble meeting Stephen Millers demand to deport 3000 immigrants a day. Because the regime lied about the number of dangerous illegal immigrants, they had to villainize immigrants in the U.S. who did not meet that description. This includes immigrants in the U.S. working, paying taxes, waiting for their cases to be heard in court. This “villainizing” has now expanded into “just looking Hispanic.”
ICE is entering a whole new dimension now. Noem is recruiting unqualified individuals, offering $50,000 sign-up bonuses, reducing important training time, and allowing new hires to begin training before they are properly vetted. Recently, Miller made controversial remarks to ICE agents affirming their federal immunity in the conduct of their duties. (reported in New Republic, 1/14/2026).
ICE agents have been disguising their identity with masks and head gear, appearing on the streets in full military gear as though they were in combat. ICE agents have kidnapped people, prevented people from accessing family or lawyers, provided no “due process” and disappeared individuals. They have deported detainees to foreign countries with no possibility of recourse (e.g., the case of the deportation of Venezuelan nationals to a prison in El Salvador). The Trump regime maintained that the 238 men were all gang members. Reports indicated that Noem knew that 75% of these men had no criminal record in the U.S. or abroad. Also, some of them were asylum seekers with no violation of immigration law (ProPublica Investigative Unit, May 2025).
The unchecked illegal and unconstitutional conduct of ICE agents has now resulted in the direct killing of American citizens, especially those who push back or question their authority. A recent incident (R. Good) involved an ICE agent shooting a woman in the head because she would not get out of her car and attempted to drive away. He said she was driving at him with her car. Noem, without any evidence, instantly called the dead woman a domestic terrorist. Multiple reports which include analysis of video footage indicate that Good was driving away from the agent, not toward him. According to local police, Good was a 37-year-old mother of three, a U.S. citizen with no prior criminal record. There was no evidence that she belonged to any violent group.
Let us be clear: ICE agents have no authority to drag individuals from their homes, cars, or places of business without a federal warrant. As Chris Atchley reminded us on the Frends of Steve Schmidt website (Jan 12, 2026) ICE agents do not have general police powers. They are there to enforce immigration law, not to stop, detain, or command citizens. The 4th Amendment to the Constitution prohibits unreasonable seizure. Blocking someone’s movements, trying to take control of their vehicle, or dragging them out of their vehicle, all without a legal basis, is unconstitutional.
There has now been yet another shooting leading to the death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU Nurse. Because Noem needs to set the narrative before an investigation can be done, she and agents are claiming Pretti threatened them with a 9mm handgun. ICE published pictures of this gun. The Minneapolis Police Chief said that Pretti was a legal gun owner and did not have a criminal record. In Minnesota, Pretti was allowed open carry if he had a valid permit. Pretti did have a gun, but it was holstered and legal in Minnesota.
Witnesses to the event said, under oath, that Pretti was not brandishing a weapon. Analysis of videotape submitted from the scene shows Pretti holding a cell phone. He walks to the agents who are holding another protestor on the ground and attempts to confront them. They pepper spray him, six agents wrestle him to the ground, they spot his holstered gun, they take it away from him and, once subdued, they proceed to shoot him multiple times. Bystanders claim that instead of providing immediate medical attention, the agents appeared to be counting the bullet wounds!
For Good and Pretti’s killers deadly force had to be imminent or threat of death or bodily harm. There was NEVER any threat to any of the agents involved. They chose to use their number and weapons to murder American citizens.
So. Who are the domestic terrorists? Is it the unlawful thugs roaming the streets of our country, brutalizing, and intimidating citizens? Or is it the unsuspecting motorists or the ICE protestors? Any infractions committed by peaceful protestors do not compare in any way to the arrests, assaults, deaths, and illegal deportations engaged in by ICE agents. Agents who wear masks, sometimes full military gear, do not identify themselves, and do not carry legal warrants for arrest. These marginally or poorly trained individuals are allowed to roam the streets of the United States harassing, assaulting, kidnapping, and now murdering non-citizens and citizens alike.
Where is the accountability? Why are ICE agents involved in kidnapping not being arrested and held to account? Why are local law enforcement officers not arresting these lawless so-called “agents” for the murders of U.S. citizens. And, most importantly, do we have a right to defend ourselves against this unconstitutional brutality?
When American citizens, protesting the obvious cruelty and injustice of a publicly funded agency, have to be concerned with being shot and then the circumstances lied about by government officials, we are living in a country without constitutional protections, without laws, and without humane law enforcement. When we have a situation where US citizens must carry their birth certificates and passports around with them daily, we are living in a fascist state.
I contend that the domestic terrorists are ICE agents.
So clear that definitions matter and the narrative being propagated by the administration is trying to inaccurately redefine domestic terrorist. What a great piece
This article makes a great case that, despite the administration’s finger pointing, it is actually ICE and CBP who are the domestic terrorists. As Ms Saunders points out the FBI defines domestic terrorism as Americans who commit violence to achieve their goals that stem from domestic, extremist ideological influences, and lack foreign direction or influence.
By that standard, can anyone seriously call Renee Good or Alex Pretti “terrorists”? Seriously?
tRump may have changed the definition to encompass anyone opposed to his evil goals. But that does not make it true.
ICE agents have no authority to drag individuals from their homes, cars, or places of business without a federal warrant.
As the article states, where is the accountability? Why are ICE agents involved in kidnapping not being arrested and held to account?
When we have a situation where US citizens must carry their birth certificates and passports around with them daily, we are living in a fascist state.