Liberal Activist's Dangerous Pursuit of ICE Agents in Minnesota Nearly Ends in Disaster
A liberal provocateur's pursuit of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minnesota took a dangerous turn when he drove into oncoming traffic, according to an expose published by The Verge. Will Stancil, a 40-year-old lawyer and activist, was joined by journalist Gaby Del Valle as he stalked ICE vehicles around the state, which has become a hotspot for tensions following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Erratic Driving and Wrong Turns
Del Valle's article, titled Will Stancil, Man of the People or Just Annoying?, details how Stancil's 'erratic' driving almost caused a deadly crash. The activist took a wrong turn onto a one-way street, accidentally maneuvering the vehicle into oncoming traffic. "We were in unfamiliar territory. That this wasn’t Stancil’s turf was clear," Del Valle wrote. "At one point, he took a left when he should’ve taken a right, and [photographer] Jack had to tell him Cleveland Avenue was actually the other way."
The journalist further described Stancil's driving as "for the most part, erratic" and characterized his efforts to track down ICE agents as "desperate." Stancil had become fixated on finding a Chevy Silverado he believed was a "confirmed ICE vehicle," referring to it as his "white whale."
Stancil's Backlash and Political Context
Following publication, Stancil expressed dissatisfaction with how he was portrayed in the article. The former candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives wrote on BlueSky that he did not anticipate the piece focusing so heavily on him personally. "Maybe we can chalk this up to a miscommunication," Stancil wrote. "Nonetheless, if I had known what the story would be - even if it had been unambiguously laudatory instead of snarky - I would not have agreed."
Stancil emphasized that he believed the article should have focused more on the community and tensions in Minnesota rather than his personal actions. "I am not the story here. My neighbors and my city are the story," he stated. "The thing I say over and over when I talk to reporters about observing here in MN is 'There is nothing special about what I am doing. I am one of thousands.'"
Del Valle briefly addressed the backlash on X, writing: "They're threatening to kill me on the other website for writing a mildly critical profile of will stancil lol."
Broader Tensions in Minnesota
The incident occurs against a backdrop of heightened tensions between Minnesota residents and ICE agents. Footage from the state has shown multiple citizens being warned by agents not to follow their vehicles. In January, two women were seen in viral footage being cautioned by ICE agents to refrain from following them.
An agent warned one woman: "Don't make a bad decision today. If I continually see you following us, interfering with us, honking your horn, blocking our cars, you have a very high probability of making a really bad decision and being arrested today, okay?" The woman responded defiantly, "I think I'm making exactly the right decision," and later told the agent, "I hope you have a terrible day."
This footage received millions of views when shared by Fox News reporter Matt Finn, with many on social media criticizing the women for antagonizing ICE agents so soon after the tragic shooting of Renee Good.
Stancil's Political Stance and ICE Criticism
Stancil has been a longtime critic of ICE, the Republican party, and former President Donald Trump, whom he described as an "evil person" in a December post on X. "Trump is an incredibly evil person, and the people who celebrate him and tell constant lies to protect him are also evil," he wrote.
Last week, Stancil told NPR that ICE tactics had begun "resorting to gross intimidation." He explained, "It’s not just bravado. It’s that I think it’s important to demonstrate that these are bluffs, that they’re trying to frighten us, but they don’t actually have the authority to do it." Last year, he told Racket MN that he was "radicalized into action" against ICE.
The Daily Mail reached out to Stancil for comment on the incident, but no response was included in the original report. The situation highlights the ongoing conflicts between immigration enforcement agencies and activists in communities across Minnesota, where emotions remain raw following recent tragedies involving ICE operations.
