Minnesota Rep. Brad Tabke posted a TikTok video outside an Islamic center in downtown Shakopee saying he joined a “rapid response” group ready to intervene if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents appeared.
Tabke, a Democrat representing Shakopee, filmed the clip on Dec. 5.
Absolute madness!! Organized community groups publicly pledging to block ICE and protect, deportable aliens by any means. Round up the vigilantes and let federal agents do their job!! pic.twitter.com/5NNdGTTy1C
— Anna 🇺🇸 (@realAnn_29) December 7, 2025
In the video, Tabke says the group gathered to “observe and document” any potential ICE activity. He asserts that agents “threatened to harm our friends in their place of worship,” though he did not provide details on who made the threat.
“We are a group of Shakopee residents helping to protect our neighbors and community today from unlawful actions of ICE,” Tabke says in the recording. “We are here in downtown Shakopee at the Samaha Islamic Center and we have a new rapid response group … to observe and document if ICE does show up.”
He says their goal is to “make sure that we’re doing the right things to take care of our neighbors.”
In another video, Tabke thanks those who have “joined our ICE watch Shakopee group,” saying the group now has 200 members who are “watching for ICE activity in our community.”
Tabke says he was asked by “some community members to help create a network of folks to observe and understand what’s happening with ICE in our community because they’re experiencing just tremendous amounts of fear.”
“Now we are not there for obstructionism,” Tabke insisted. “It is not there to be stopping law enforcement activities.”
Alpha News also obtained a message purportedly sent by Rep. Tabke himself in which he describes alleged ICE activity in Shakopee and criticizes the agency.
“As far as we’ve heard it was a mostly quiet day with ICE in Shakopee … except for this bullshit,” the message says. “There were a dozen vehicles with 15 agents going after one, single man … WHO WASN’T EVEN HOME. I’m not sure of all the details beyond it being a colossal waste of energy and money while terrorizing an entire neighborhood. ICE has to go.”
Tabke made similar comments on Facebook and went so far as to say that “ICE makes us less safe.”
In another post, he claimed ICE pepper sprayed a baby and said the agency’s enforcement operation in Minnesota needs to end.
“The agent knew the baby was there and did it anyway because this farce is all about intimidation and fear — not making the world a better place. ICE does not make our communities safer,” he said.
In July 2021, America Thayer was beheaded by an illegal alien in the middle of an intersection in broad daylight in Tabke’s district. Thayer’s son, Charles, testified before a legislative committee earlier this year in support of a bill seeking to crack down on sanctuary policies.
“The only question I really have left is how anybody on any side of any aisle would ever have a problem with reporting dangerous criminals to ICE so they can be considered for deportation immediately,” Charles said.
The illegal alien, Alexis Saborit, was eventually found “not guilty” of the beheading due to mental illness. The not-guilty ruling reversed a prior finding by the same judge, Caroline Lennon, who declared Saborit guilty of premeditated first-degree murder in the gruesome homicide.
Democrat State Rep. Alex Falconer is also facing criticism online for inviting people to be a part of the “resistance network” against ICE.
OMG. Minnesota State Rep Alex Falconer is operating a “resistance network” against ICE, which includes:
– Signal chats to alert illegals about locations of ICE activity
– Free legal help
– Reporting system to dox ICE live location
– Have illegals’ groceries delivered and… pic.twitter.com/eCrD9YGIY5— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 16, 2025
Tabke’s 2024 race clouded by missing ballots
Tabke narrowly won reelection in 2024 over Republican Aaron Paul. Following election night and a subsequent recount, Tabke was found to have a 14-vote lead in the race for the seat.
However, officials with Scott County later discovered that 20 ballots were unaccounted for and likely thrown away. Given that the margin of victory was smaller than the number of missing ballots, Paul filed an election contest lawsuit requesting a special election.
Six of the 20 voters later testified that they voted for Tabke, which would mathematically put the race out of reach for Paul. A judge then ruled against holding a special election.
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.
