The Boston headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation is situated at a busy intersection in Chelsea, Massachusetts, a location that many view as symbolic of a larger dilemma facing the agency today.
As the FBI aims to fulfill its mission of protecting the American people and upholding the Constitution, some observers worry about its involvement in political matters under the Trump administration, particularly regarding individuals who oppose the president’s policies.
Reports have surfaced indicating that agents from the Boston office have harassed climate change activists and pro-Palestinian demonstrators, raising significant concerns among local attorneys and advocates.
These developments have taken place against the backdrop of a notable leadership vacuum at the Boston office. Jodi Cohen, the special agent in charge, has been promoted and is now based in Washington, D.C.
In her absence, Kimberly Milka has assumed the role of acting special agent in charge, overseeing operations across Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Yet, neither Cohen nor Milka could be reached for comment regarding these pressing issues.
Jeff Feuer, an attorney based in Cambridge, represents several environmental activists who have reported being questioned by the FBI this spring. He claims that such actions intend to instill fear in individuals exercising their rights through nonviolent protest.
Feuer, who chairs the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild Mass Defense Committee, stated, “This is another level of escalation, of an attempt to intimidate and harass people the Trump administration does not agree with who are engaged in peaceful, nonviolent, First Amendment-protected protest.”
The implications of these actions foster a chilling effect, which could hinder public participation in democratic processes.
Boston immigration attorney Matt Cameron has voiced similar concerns regarding the FBI’s foray into immigration enforcement. He cited a disturbing video from April, which depicted ICE agents shattering the windows of a car in New Bedford to arrest an immigrant with no criminal record, an operation that was reportedly aided by the FBI.
Cameron noted that he has encountered several cases where individuals were detained alongside FBI agents during such immigration enforcement actions. He characterized this involvement as inappropriate, stating, “This is civil immigration enforcement. This is not what the FBI is supposed to be for. It’s not what they’re trained for.”
Amid these actions, the FBI is undergoing significant changes under the leadership of newly appointed director Kash Patel, a known ally of President Donald Trump. Since his confirmation, Patel has actively sought to reconfigure the agency by restructuring its headquarters, transferring personnel, and expelling ‘disloyal’ agents in an attempt to dismantle what he terms the “deep state.”
The FBI declined to provide detailed commentary for this article. In a written statement regarding the issues surrounding climate activists, spokesperson Kristen M. Setera indicated that the agency does not confirm or deny the existence of specific investigations, emphasizing their role in supporting other federal partners.
Leah Foley, the newly appointed U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts, voiced her belief that law-abiding citizens have nothing to fear from the restructured FBI, asserting that the agency’s primary role is to ensure national safety and security.
She stated, “I don’t believe this president would compromise the safety of the people in the United States of America simply over political griefs. I just don’t think it’s going to happen.”
Professor Nathan Phillips, a climate scientist affiliated with Boston University, recounted a troubling encounter involving FBI agents visiting his home seeking information about his whereabouts. This prompted him to reach out directly to the FBI field office in Chelsea, only to have his call ended abruptly.
Phillips later discovered that he was not alone; several other climate activists received similar visits on the same day, raising alarm among social justice advocates and attorneys regarding potential targeting.
Activists claim their engagement in nonviolent civil disobedience has brought about this unwarranted attention from federal agents. Some of these individuals, like Donald “Monty” Neill, also associated with Extinction Rebellion, have refrained from fully cooperating with the FBI. Neill noted the implications of federal agents’ interest in him were likely tied to his activism.
He stated, “It’s very clear that Trump wants to unleash gas, oil, and coal to the maximum extent he can. And so anybody in his way would be part of the problem.”
This recent engagement by the FBI echoes troubling historical patterns as the agency has long faced scrutiny over its monitoring and infiltration of leftist movements in the past.
Feuer recalled the extensive counterintelligence operations of the 1960s and 1970s, known as COINTELPRO, which targeted civil rights activists and anti-war demonstrators. He expressed concern about the revival of such tactics.
The FBI’s current policies stipulate limitations on investigations based solely on First Amendment rights, yet recent attempts to gain access to Instagram posts made by pro-Palestinian students at Columbia University cast doubt on the agency’s adherence to its own guidelines.
Legal challenges have arisen, resulting in federal courts rejecting the FBI’s requests on First Amendment grounds.
Feuer, who has spent over three decades practicing law in the area, remarked on the unprecedented levels of local FBI engagement in political activities he has observed recently.
“I’ve been doing this for 35 years, and we’ve never had federal involvement in protest actions here other than collecting information perhaps,” he stated.
The ongoing collaboration between the FBI and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has also drawn criticism. Recent reports highlighted that nearly 1,500 undocumented immigrants were arrested in Massachusetts with assistance from the FBI.
Concerns continue to grow among lawmakers and civil rights advocates regarding the implications of federal resources being applied to civil enforcement actions, especially given specific incidents like that involving Francisco Méndez in New Bedford.
Congressman Bill Keating sent a letter addressing his concerns over the violent manner in which an arrest was made, questioning the appropriateness of such tactics by FBI agents.
U.S. Attorney Foley underscored that the FBI’s collaboration with ICE was a natural extension of their operational priorities, asserting, “I know that the FBI, DEA and the marshals are all working together in order to execute ICE’s mission right now.”
Concerns regarding the use of federal resources have been echoed by Carmen Ortiz, the former U.S. attorney for Massachusetts, who highlighted troubling arrests involving individuals without criminal records.
Phillips, the climate scientist, reaffirmed his commitment to protest despite the visit from FBI agents. He emphasized his adherence to nonviolent principles and his determination to exercise his rights.
As he quoted Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, suggesting that transparency is essential for democracy, he stated, “I can’t not go back to them because they give me that jolt of, this is what democracy looks like.”
The ongoing tension between law enforcement, political activism, and civil rights in Massachusetts presents a complex landscape for both citizens and agencies like the FBI as they navigate their roles in a politically charged environment.
image source from：https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2025-06-12/how-has-the-fbi-changed-under-trump-in-boston-agents-are-more-involved-in-local-actions
