Imagine going to and from work each day past a steady stream of protesters waving dildos, blowing whistles, and hurling vulgar insults at you — simply because you work in the same building as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
That is the reality dozens of people face every day outside the Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis — and now, one worker tells Alpha News the harassment is no longer confined to the premises.
A contractor who works at the Whipple building and asked not to be named says she has been followed several times after leaving work and, in one instance, discovered a tracking device placed on her vehicle.
She said similar incidents prompted a department within the Whipple building to begin logging license plates, vehicle descriptions and details of each encounter in a shared spreadsheet viewed by Alpha News.
“We’re getting a lot of reports,” she said. “They’re just following everybody — anyone who pulls out of the lot.”
The employee, who does not work for ICE, said the incidents have occurred at least five times while driving home from work, following what she described as “complete harassment” as she exits the premises.
“They call me Nazi and Gestapo and yell, ‘F-ck you, get out of here,’ and flip me off every time,” she said.
She said the repeated incidents have created a growing sense of fear among employees.
“People are afraid to come to work,” she said. “I get anxiety every time it’s time to go home.”
The claim comes days after a violent confrontation at the same location made national headlines. On April 11, Savanah Hernandez, a reporter for Turning Point USA’s Frontlines, was assaulted by protestors outside the Whipple building.
‘Every time I switched lanes, he switched lanes’
The employee described what she believes is a coordinated effort, with individuals stationed near the building alerting drivers when vehicles leave the parking lot.
“They sit there and wait for someone to drive by,” she said.
In one instance, she said a driver mirrored her movements as she tried to get away.
“Every time I switched lanes, he would switch lanes,” she said, adding that no matter what turns or exits she took, the vehicle continued to follow.
“I called 911, and they directed me to go to the closest police department, which was the 5th Precinct. I exited 35W to 31st Street, and they continued to follow me. I missed the first turn, and they followed me around the block but kept going when I pulled into the police station. The passenger had a red face covering, white hat and sunglasses,” she said.
She has since installed dashcams on the front and rear windows.
The latest incident, she said, involved a black sedan captured on her dashcams (top photo), parked along a road near the Whipple building where she says the “chasers” wait for employees to leave the building.
She said the vehicle began following her as she drove away.
Having had enough, she said she pulled over on Minnehaha Ave., got out of her car and yelled, “Quit following me,” at which point she said the vehicle quickly drove away.
Tracking device claim raises further concerns
In what may be the most serious allegation, the employee said a tracking device was discovered on her vehicle after her phone repeatedly alerted her to an unknown device detected near her.
At first, she dismissed the notifications, assuming they were coming from nearby traffic. But the alerts kept appearing, even during a shopping trip with her teenage daughter.
When they returned home, they decided to search the vehicle.
“My daughter found it,” she said.
She said the device was located under the frame near the rear passenger door, concealed inside a small magnetic case — an image she later documented in photos shared with Alpha News.
She said the device was turned over to federal investigators for analysis, but she has not received any results.
Alpha News asked whether anyone in her life might have a reason to track her vehicle. She said there was not.
“There’s nothing in my personal life that would warrant that whatsoever,” she said.
Activist network confirms license plate was tracked
The employee said she also reached out to an activist network known as “Stop ICE,” which tracks license plates of individuals believed to be connected to immigration enforcement activity.
She contacted the group to see whether her license plate had been listed in its database — and discovered that it was.
According to emails reviewed by Alpha News, members of the network confirmed they had her license plate in their system and said it had been removed upon her request.
“They told me they took it off,” she said. “But I’m still being followed.”
For the employee, the experience has left her questioning how far such tactics may go.
“I don’t understand the point,” she said. “It’s so scary. We don’t know when it’s going to end.”
Operation Metro Surge — which fueled many of these protests — ended in February.
Alpha News visited the Whipple Federal Building to cover the end of Operation Metro Surge, where protesters shouted “Go f–k yourself” and other expletives at a vehicle driving in.
🚨VIDEO: “Little baby b*tches”
“Go f*** yourself”
“C*nt”
15 seconds outside the Whipple Federal Building as @AlphaNews returned to cover the end of Operation Metro Surge.
The scene has played out for months for those who work in the building as they come and go.
Profanity… pic.twitter.com/55oKSjAhWx
— Liz Collin (@lizcollin) February 18, 2026
Law enforcement response
The employee told Alpha News she contacted the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office about being followed, but she said she was told that for law enforcement to get involved, it would require a pattern involving the same vehicle repeatedly following her.
“They are telling me that they have to have a pattern, like the same car following me several times,” she said.
She said the vehicles have been different in each instance, which she believes may be an attempt to avoid establishing a pattern.
Alpha News reached out to the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, which said it has received multiple reports involving suspicious activity, including individuals being followed.
“HCSO has taken a few reports from people who have reported suspicious activity including individuals being followed. At this time, at least one incident is under investigation. If someone feels unsafe or is witnessing suspicious activity, we advise that they call 911. There has been at least one arrest on a harassment charge stemming from a following incident from Fort Snelling,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
