January 27, 2026
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FBI Director Warns Against 'False Narrative' as Bureau Probes Minnesota ICE Killings, Agent Threats and Signal Chats

FBI Director Kash Patel urged the public and media not to “cement a false narrative” and to remain calm while the FBI and DHS, working with state and local partners, investigate two killings involving ICE and Border Patrol agents in Minnesota and review Signal group chats that share agents’ movements — involvement the bureau says is limited to instances where users incite violence or threaten officers. Patel also disclosed the FBI arrested four people for vandalizing an FBI vehicle and stealing sensitive information used to threaten agents and their families, and that the bureau led actions charging protesters with federal FACE Act violations after anti‑ICE demonstrators stormed a Minnesota church.

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📌 Key Facts

  • FBI Director Kash Patel urged the public and media not to "let the media cement a false narrative" about the Minnesota incidents and told people to "take a breath and calm down" while investigations proceed.
  • Patel confirmed the Department of Homeland Security is probing two killings involving ICE and Border Patrol agents in Minnesota, describing them as ongoing investigations run jointly with state and local partners.
  • The FBI is examining a Signal chat group that shares ICE agents’ movements, but Patel said the bureau's involvement is limited to instances where users incite violence or threaten harm to law-enforcement officers.
  • The FBI arrested four people accused of vandalizing an FBI vehicle, stealing "sensitive information" from it, and allegedly using that information to threaten federal agents and their family members.
  • Patel said the FBI "led the charge" to arrest individuals for FACE Act violations tied to anti-ICE protesters who stormed a Minnesota church, emphasizing that FACE Act violations are federal crimes.

📰 Source Timeline (2)

Follow how coverage of this story developed over time

January 27, 2026
6:00 PM
FBI director warns media not to ‘cement false narrative’ as agencies probe Minnesota violence
Fox News
New information:
  • Kash Patel, as FBI director, publicly urges the public and media not to "let the media cement a false narrative" about Minnesota incidents and to "take a breath and calm down" while investigations into ICE and Border Patrol killings proceed.
  • He explicitly confirms DHS is probing two killings involving ICE and Border Patrol agents in Minnesota and characterizes them as ongoing investigations run jointly with state and local partners.
  • Patel states the FBI is examining a Signal chat group that shares ICE agents’ movements, but frames FBI involvement as limited to cases where users incite violence or threaten harm to law-enforcement officers.
  • He discloses that the FBI has arrested four people for vandalizing an FBI vehicle, stealing "sensitive information" from it and allegedly using that information to threaten federal agents, their wives and children.
  • Patel says the bureau "led the charge" to arrest individuals for FACE Act violations tied to anti‑ICE protesters storming a Minnesota church, emphasizing that FACE Act violations are federal crimes.