Report on Counter Extremism (April 2025)
If you experience or witness discrimination, threats, harassment, or violence or see demonstrations by extremist groups, please report them to Catalyst Montana. By tracking these activities, we better understand the escalation of these groups.
Broken Taillights in a Broken System: What a Whitefish Arrest Says About Montana’s Immigration Crisis
Last month, federal agents arrested Beker Rengifo del Castillo, a Venezuelan man legally living in Whitefish under Federal Humanitarian Parole. His offense? A broken taillight. Despite his legal status, he was detained, transferred to a detention facility out of state, and held for days with no charges or explanation. Just the chilling reality of what happens when anti-immigrant paranoia and unchecked enforcement power collide.
This was not a misunderstanding. It was a warning - one that should concern all Montanans.
Beker’s arrest is not an isolated case, rather it’s the inevitable result of growing hostility toward immigrants in Montana, fueled by political opportunism, misinformation, and fear. Since President Trump’s second inauguration in January, Montana has seen a surge in legislation and grassroots activism aimed at punishing and scapegoating immigrants, regardless of their legal status.
In the 2025 legislative session alone, state lawmakers introduced multiple bills targeting immigrants and those who support them. Bills like HB 536 sought to criminalize the employment of undocumented workers and encouraged neighbors to turn on neighbors. Other bills such as HB 635 go even further, undermining diversity and equity programs that help immigrants integrate into schools and workplaces. The message from Helena is clear: You are not welcome here even if the law says otherwise.
This toxic political climate has emboldened local vigilante groups like "Take Back Bozeman," which has spread inflammatory, baseless claims linking immigrants with crime and trafficking. In February, this group amplified conspiracy theories surrounding a Venezuelan family legally housed in Kalispell, which last year lead to a failed effort by state legislators to call a special session to address so-called "illegal immigration" in Montana. No facts were provided. No crime had occurred. But the fear campaign worked at least for a moment.
This is how communities are torn apart: not just by laws, but by suspicion.
If you’re an immigrant in Montana today, your legal status may not protect you from being detained, harassed, or surveilled. And if you’re a neighbor, you might wonder what you can do in the face of federal agents showing up unannounced on your street.
Here’s what everyone needs to know:
You have the right to remain silent. You are not required to answer questions about your immigration status.
You don’t have to open the door unless ICE presents a judicial warrant signed by a judge. Administrative warrants do not count.
They must identify themselves and show that they are legally sworn federal agents.
You have the right to an attorney and to refuse signing any documents without legal advice.
You can document ICE activity: video, names, badge numbers and share that with trusted advocacy groups or the media.
But rights are only useful if people know them, and are supported when they exercise them.
That’s where communities come in. Across Montana, groups like Valley Neighbors, Soft Landing, and Bienvenidos Gallatin Valley are stepping up. They’re building "Know Your Rights" resources, forming rapid response networks, and offering legal aid to families at risk. They can’t do it alone.
We, as neighbors, must match courage with action. Attend a workshop. Donate to an immigrant aid group. Challenge the false narratives when you hear them. Write a letter to the editor. Show up. Speak out. Make it clear that we will not stand by while our neighbors are targeted over paperwork or broken tail lights.
Montana has always taken pride in being tough AND fair. The current wave of fear-driven policies and vigilante tactics betrays that identity. What happened to Beker del Castillo is wrong. If we stay silent, it won’t be the last time it happens.
We can do better. We must do better. Stand up for decency Montana. We know it’s the right thing to do.
If you experience or witness discrimination, threats, harassment, or violence or see demonstrations by extremist groups, please report them to Catalyst Montana. By tracking these activities, we better understand the escalation of these groups.
