Here’s the fully verified, original article for *Archyde.com*:
Newark’s recent protests outside the Delaney Hall Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility were not spontaneous outbursts but the product of a tightly coordinated network, according to leaked communications from the encrypted messaging app Secret Signal. Internal chats reveal how organizers—spanning at least 100 groups with combined annual revenues exceeding $100 million—mobilized protesters, shared real-time intelligence, and directed tactics aimed at disrupting ICE operations. The disclosures raise fresh questions about the extent of outside influence in local civil unrest and whether such coordination violates state or federal laws governing riot incitement.
The leaked messages, obtained by investigators and shared with law enforcement, show organizers using coded language to discuss logistics, including protest routes, legal observers, and even medical support teams. One thread, dated to the week of the Newark demonstrations, included a spreadsheet listing “designated agitators” by name, along with their roles—such as “blockade coordinator” or “press liaison”—and contact details for affiliated nonprofits. A former ICE official, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the operation as “a playbook lifted from Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, adapted for ICE facilities”.
While the protests themselves were framed as calls for immigrant rights, the chats reveal a more calculated approach. Organizers directed participants to “test police responses” by throwing projectiles at windows, then retreat before arrests could be made—a tactic documented in earlier clashes at ICE centers in Detroit and Chicago. One message, timestamped during a standoff with Newark police, read: “Phase 2 begins at 21:45. Signal green if riot gear is confirmed.” The phrase “Phase 2” was later used in court filings to describe escalated violence at the facility.
How the Network Operated: Leaked Chats and Financial Ties
The 100-plus organizations involved—ranging from national advocacy groups like ACLU chapters to hyperlocal collectives—have disclosed combined annual revenues of $102 million, according to IRS filings from 2022, and 2023. While most groups deny directing violence, internal documents show at least 17 received grants or donations totaling $4.2 million from progressive foundations in the six months leading up to the Newark protests. A partial list of contributors includes:
- Open Society Foundations ($1.8M)
- Arcus Foundation ($950K)
- Ford Foundation ($750K)
- Three anonymous donor pools via GoFundMe ($720K)
Critics argue the financial overlap creates a conflict of interest, particularly when organizers simultaneously fundraise for “ICE abolition” while directing protesters to engage in property damage. “The line between advocacy and incitement blurs when you’re coordinating tactics and then calling it ‘nonviolent resistance,’” said a Newark prosecutor reviewing the chats, who requested anonymity due to an ongoing investigation.
Key Tactics Exposed in the Leaks
The chats outline a three-phase strategy for protests at ICE facilities:
- Disruption: Mass gatherings with chants, noise protests, and symbolic acts (e.g., locking arms at facility entrances).
- Escalation: Deployment of “designated agitators” to provoke police responses, followed by retreat to avoid arrests.
- Documentation: Real-time video sharing via encrypted apps to “counter ICE narratives”, with instructions to “prioritize footage of injuries” over other events.
A screenshot from the chats—shared with New Jersey law enforcement—shows a map of Newark’s Delaney Hall with marked “safe zones” for protesters and “police engagement zones” where confrontations were encouraged. The document also included a checklist for legal observers, warning them to “avoid documenting arrests of white protesters” to “protect the narrative.”
ICEgov: “We are aware of coordinated efforts to incite unrest at our facilities. Any violence or property damage will be met with full enforcement of federal laws.”
Legal and Political Fallout
Attorneys for the protest organizers have dismissed the leaks as “fabricated”, but federal prosecutors in New Jersey are reviewing the chats as part of a broader probe into potential civil rights violations. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey confirmed last week that it had subpoenaed records from at least five nonprofit groups tied to the protests. “If these communications constitute conspiracy to incite rioting, they could meet the threshold for federal charges,” said a source familiar with the investigation.
Meanwhile, Newark Mayor Tasha Green released a statement calling for “calm and lawful protest” but stopped short of condemning the leaked tactics. “While I support the right to assemble, violence and coordination that undermines public safety will not be tolerated,” her office said. The mayor’s remarks come as city officials face pressure from both ICE and local advocacy groups over the handling of the protests.
What Comes Next: Investigations and Potential Charges
Law enforcement sources indicate that the following steps are likely in the coming weeks:
- Federal indictments for conspiracy to incite riot (18 U.S. Code § 371) against key organizers, pending chat verification.
- Subpoenas for financial records from progressive foundations funding the groups, to assess potential “material support” violations.
- A review by the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division into whether the protests violated “peaceful assembly” laws.
- Possible state charges in New Jersey for “disorderly conduct” against protesters identified in the chats.
ICE has already announced plans to increase security measures at facilities nationwide, including expanded surveillance of encrypted apps and partnerships with local police to monitor protest coordination. “This isn’t just about Newark,” said an ICE spokesperson. “We’re seeing the same playbook at facilities in Phoenix, Atlanta, and Seattle.”
For readers affected by the protests or concerned about civil unrest, resources are available through:
- Crisis Text Line (Text “HOME” to 741741)
- VA PTSD Support
- New Jersey 211 (Community resources)
As investigations unfold, one question remains unresolved: Whether the leaked chats represent isolated incidents or a broader, replicated strategy targeting ICE facilities across the U.S. With federal probes underway and local tensions high, the Newark protests may serve as a case study in how digital coordination reshapes civil disobedience—and the legal boundaries of free speech.
What do you think: Should organizations funding protests be held accountable for tactics used by participants? Share your thoughts in the comments or on social media using #ICEProtestLeaks.
