DES MOINES, Iowa — A grassroots organization in Des Moines is now educating community members on their rights after the group posted security camera video online showing what they believe are federal agents associated with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice (MMJ) is a statewide advocacy group that provides legal services to immigrant and refugee populations in Iowa.

On August 29th, Iowa MMJ posted two videos on their Facebook page, which were sent to them from a community member. The caption for the videos indicates that they were recorded on August 20th, around 10 a.m. in Des Moines.

The first video shows what appears to be a masked officer knocking on the door with two other officers in the background. After receiving no answer, the officers retreated to what appears to be two unmarked vehicles.

The second video shows an officer walking along the side of a house. This officer is wearing a vest that has “U.S. Marshal” printed on the back.

The U.S. Marshals Service is separate from ICE, but U.S. Marshal agents have worked with ICE in specific cases in 2025 to enforce immigration laws.

WHO 13 News has reached out to the Southern District of Iowa with an inquiry on the two videos, but has not heard back.

Elizabeth Balcarcel is the rapid response community organizer for Iowa MMJ. She said she hasn’t seen large ICE activity in Iowa, but the organization was made aware of welfare check-ins in the state. She said many immigrants, including those who are naturalized citizens, have expressed fear to Iowa MMJ as a result of these welfare check-ins.

Iowa MMJ is now educating community members on their rights. This includes things like:

• You have the right to remain silent.
• You have the right to demand a warrant before opening your door.
• You have the right to speak with a lawyer.
• You have the right to refuse to sign anything you don’t understand before you speak with a lawyer.

Balcarcel also said it’s important to have a family plan and decide how to handle these situations before they happen.

She said community members can ask questions through a window or door. She said it’s important to know if the law enforcement officers have a judicial order and whose name and address are on the order.

“As soon as you let them inside the house, you’re giving them the right to ask questions to anyone inside of the house, so if they’re looking specifically for one person and they have a judicial order, I think a good step to think about is… to step out [of the house],” she said.

Balcarcel also said that even if the officer has a judicial order and the individual needs to step out of the house, they still have the right to remain silent and seek legal representation.