News/Commentary

CNN praises teen homeschoolers for becoming ‘full-time ICE watchers’

February 4, 2026 | | Print Article

Corporate media finally found homeschooled kids they could support as CNN lauded the “sacrifice” of Chicago teens turned “full-time ICE watchers.”

In the aftermath of two fatal confrontations with federal immigration enforcement officers in Minnesota, coordinated propaganda efforts have seen agitators and obstructionists dubbed “legal observers” turn out. Monday, CNN saw fit to highlight two teens on the ground in Minneapolis supported by their advocate mother to pursue, and record suspected U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

Sharing their puff piece promoting the nepo activists, the outlet wrote on X, “The teenagers’ names are Sam and Ben, but to the federal immigration agents they interact with daily, the two boys wielding cell phones and taking down plate numbers are a duo known as ‘the brothers.'”

Within the article, CNN described the Luhmann brothers as “trained ICE watchers, documenting federal immigration agents’ actions with cell phone video and quickly warning of agents’ locations with whistles and car horns.”

“Their efforts are reflective of a growing movement across the country as thousands of parents, teachers, clergy members, and community organizers have sought training on what they can legally do when they see an immigration arrest,” continued the article.

According to Religion News Service, Audrey Luhmann, the mother of the “TikTok kids,” has long been an activist, having participated in an advocacy group for abuse survivors of the Anglican Church in North America. She was also said to belong to controversial encrypted Signal groups like the one that had steered agitators to the scene of immigration enforcement in the moments leading up to Alex Pretti’s death.

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“The homeschooled boys spend their days in south Minneapolis following suspected federal vehicles in their silver 2018 Toyota Corolla, writing down license plate numbers and sending immigration agents’ locations in group chats with other observers,” wrote CNN before emphasizing how the teens, 17- and 16-year-olds, would rather be fly fishing or making music.

Coverage of the Luhmanns stands in stark contrast to corporate media reporting when it comes to conservatives. For instance, many challenged Kyle Rittenhouse’s presence in Kenosha, Wisconsin, after he’d traveled across the border from Illinois to help clean up and protect local businesses ravaged by rioters.

Likewise, CNN’s own coverage of a confrontation between separate demonstrations at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., resulted in then-Covington Catholic High School student Nick Sandmann securing a settlement from the network after he filed a defamation lawsuit over its portrayal of him.

Reactions to CNN’s latest “spokeskids” found little surprise with the favor for the Luhmanns, given corporate media’s track record with the likes of David Hogg and Greta Thunberg. However, the promotion of their status as homeschool kids did stand out since, in this case, it helped to support a desired narrative.

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Kevin Haggerty
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