An undercover video posted on X appears to show Houston activists with socialist and leftist affiliations discussing ways to track and interfere with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.
The meeting, hosted by the Party for Socialism and Liberation in partnership with Houston Leads, brought together about a dozen participants. Speakers outlined plans for a rapid response network to oppose deportations, raids and detentions, citing similar efforts in California.
“We want to build a long-term movement that fights back against deportations, raids, detention, and all other forms of immigration-related terror,” one organizer said.
The group discussed tactics such as recording ICE agents, slowing operations, and mobilizing at targeted locations. Volunteers were told to present themselves as neutral legal observers to avoid disclosing affiliation.
Organizers also mentioned “de-arrest” training, a term used to describe physically intervening in arrests.
Authorities say a California raid cited in the meeting resulted in the rescue of several children in the country illegally.
The Houston chapter claims roughly 150 members and aims to expand to 500 to increase its capacity to respond. Organizers acknowledged potential risks, including arrest for obstructing justice.
Former Houston City Council member Mike Knox, a Republican who served eight years on the council and previously spent 15 years as a Houston police officer, said the group’s right to meet and voice grievances is protected — but its intent is clear.
“The people in this video are within their rights to discuss their grievances with the government regarding immigration enforcement,” Knox said.
“I noticed they were very careful with the language being used to describe tactics to monitor ICE activities but used very broad terms. Broad terms rely on the individual to interpret the intent. Clearly, this group hopes you will make a mistake and get arrested so they can use it for their purpose at your expense.
“I am encouraged to discover this group has so few members. In the end I trust sanity and reason will prevail.”
