The Trump Administration is facing mounting criticism over a sweeping directive that expands the government’s definition of domestic terrorism indicators to include a wide range of political beliefs, with lawmakers and civil liberties groups warning it could be used to criminalize dissent.
The order, which directs the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) to investigate “networks, entities, and organizations that foment political violence,” identifies ideological markers such as anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism and anti-Christianity as potential red flags. Rights groups say that language is so broad it risks sweeping in protest movements, advocacy organizations, and critics of the administration.
The order comes amid a widespread crackdown on leftwing groups and organizations in the aftermath of the killing of Charlie Kirk and a shooting at a Dallas ICE facility.
The Joint Terrorism Task Force is a federal law enforcement organization that combats both domestic and international terrorism. The unit collaborates with various federal, state, tribal, and local partners, including the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations, to combat terrorism.
The force grew in scope following the 9/11 terrorist attack, though some cities, such as Portland, have withdrawn their police officers from the JTTF. The task force has a record of controversy given its history of targeting protestors, dissenters, and people of color, according to the ACLU
While no mention of JTTF has been officially made in connection with the Memphis task force, recent images such as the one below and video of masked agents taken by Memphis residents indicate that both HSI and the FBI are actively involved in task force operations, along with other federal, local and state agencies.