ICE Threatens Our Cameraman to "Stay a Distance" From Them

An ICE agent stopped our videojournalist Jon Farina, bizarrely asking to show his press credentials in order to film their activities (which is illegal). He refused to comply. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

WE’VE BEEN ON THE GROUND REPORTING IN MINNEAPOLIS for NEARLY 2 MONTHS! Between paying our staff and freelancers—plus travel costs—we have spent over $30,000. As an INDEPENDENTLY funded outlet, we need your support to stay on the ground to cover Trump’s exploding fascism. SUPPORT SC for as low as $5 bucks a month!

Our videojournalist Jon Farina, who has been reporting ON THE GROUND in Minneapolis for us for nearly 2 months, was approached this morning by an ICE agent as he was sitting in his parked car on the side of the road (watch video above).

The bizarre exchange went like this:

ICE: What press are you with?
JF: Who are you?
ICE: Huh? ICE
JF: Who's asking?
ICE: I'm asking
JF: OK...
ICE: So what press are you with?
JF: I don't think that matters
ICE: Do me a favor, stay a distance away from my guys while we're conducting our investigations
JF: We're a distance

It should go without saying but this entire exchange was completely lawless.

• You don't need to be a member of the press/have a press credential to film or record government officials. This is protected first amendment activity.

• Our cameraman Jon has every legal & constitutional right to track ICE activities (as do non-journalists).

• ICE has no legal right to dictate that journalists, or the public, must "stay a distance" away from their activities.

• As long as journalists or the public are not directly physically interfering/blocking ICE agents from their activities, ICE's continued asking for press to show their credentials is just...theater.

This was not the first time Trump’s federal immigration agents have threatened Jon for the crime of…journalism. Back in November, Border Patrol agents stopped him and another videojournalist as they reported ON-THE-GROUND in Charlotte— accused them of “impeding” their activities by…legally following their activities (see video below).

Jon, nor any other Status Coup journalist, will be intimidated by ICE or Border Patrol—who seem to have never read the first amendment (or the 2nd, 4th, or 10th) when it comes to their so-called “investigations.”

STRAIGHT UP: Jon, along with our reporter JT Cestkowski and freelance reporters and cameraman like Zach D. Roberts, Tina-Desiree Berg, and Will Allen-DuPraw, have been gassed and shot at with so-called “less lethal” ammunition during their reporting for Status Coup in Minneapolis for NEARLY 2 MONTHS. Between paying our reporters, cameraman, producers and editors—plus the travel costs (flights, hotels, rent-a-car, equipment, food)—we’ve spent over $30,000 to report ON THE GROUND and show you this rising fascism. We have ZERO corporate sponsors and are not funded by the corporations and oligarchs corrupting our government and country. We are funded by YOU THE PEOPLE. If you value this ON-THE-GROUND reporting, please SIGN UP as a paying Status Coup member today for as low as $5 bucks a month. Without an increase in paid members, we’re not going to be able to continue covering the costs to continue reporting in Minneapolis—and wherever Trump’s terror campaign spreads to next.

Already a Status Coup member? You can also support this ON THE GROUND reporting by donating.

Let’s keep waking up the masses.