A group of software developers found themselves under verbal attack after being wrongly identified as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during a lunch outing in Minneapolis. The incident occurred as they were dining at Clancey’s Deli, dressed casually in sweatshirts and jackets, completely unaware of the chaos about to unfold.
While enjoying their meal, one of the engineers received an alarming notification from an anti-ICE Signal chat, alerting members that plainclothes ICE agents were reportedly at the deli, as reported by Alpha News.
The engineer, who received the message in the “SW Minneapolis Rapid Response” chat, shared that he and his colleagues are politically aligned with the anti-ICE movement. This engineer, who introduced himself as Lee, expressed his disbelief to the news outlet.
“My friend was taken aback. He’s politically aligned with the anti-ICE stance, lives nearby, and has eaten there before. Suddenly, he’s seeing messages labeling us as ICE,” Lee recounted.
After the alert circulated, a crowd of anti-ICE protesters gathered outside the restaurant, peering through the windows, as captured in a video recorded by one of the engineers. The mistaken identity led to a tense situation, illustrating the power of misinformation to incite action.
After the alert was shared, dozens of anti-ICE agitators flocked to the restaurant and peered into the window, according to a video filmed by one of the men.
Once the group left, they were met on the street with derision from the crowd.
“You’re a f—— bootlicker b—-!” one of the agitators can be heard.
“Get out of our f—— neighborhood!” screamed another.
“Next thing we know, people are yelling, ‘I hope you die,’ and calling us pedophiles,” said Lee.
Protesters gather in front of the Minnesota State Capitol in response to the death of Renee Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE officer last week, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
One of the men tried explaining that they were software engineers trying to have a meal.
“We do custom apps for a whole bunch of companies around Minnesota and the country,” he said.
Still, the crowd appeared unconvinced.
“Do I look like an ICE agent?” one of the men asked, prompting one woman to reply with: “Yeah, you look like a f—— ICE agent.”
“Get the f— out” one person is heard saying as whistles are heard in the background.
“This is what’s wrong with your guys’ cause,” the man said.
A woman asks, “Would you support [us]?”
“The way you guys are acting? No. And I don’t support ICE either,” one man said. “I’m just trying to enjoy my lunch!”
