Fifteen people in Minnesota have been charged with conspiracy to impede or injure federal officers in connection with their response to a controversial and deadly immigration enforcement operation earlier this year. The charges were announced by US Attorney for Minnesota Daniel Rosen and the special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations during a press conference in Minneapolis on Tuesday.
Allegations Against Antifa Groups
Prosecutors allege that the defendants were members of two Minneapolis-based antifa groups that "violently oppose immigration law enforcement." Of the 15 charged, 12 were arrested on Tuesday, one was already in custody on other federal charges, and two remain at large, according to officials.
Rosen presented social media posts and videos of some of the indicted individuals to support the allegations that they intended to impede law enforcement. In one video, a man identifies himself as antifa and discusses bringing guns to a demonstration. Rosen did not confirm whether any agents or officers were injured by the defendants.
Background of the Crackdown
The Trump administration deployed thousands of immigration agents to Minnesota starting in late 2025, partly based on fraud allegations against Somali residents. The operation, known as "Operation Metro Surge," sparked protests and widespread community response, including monitoring agents and providing food for those staying home. During the crackdown, agents killed two people—Renee Good and Alex Pretti—leading to further demonstrations.
Outside the federal courthouse on Tuesday, dozens of people gathered to protest the charges, including Nekima Levy Armstrong, who faces separate charges related to a church protest. Signs carried messages like "stop FBI entrapment" and "protesting is not a crime."
Ongoing Investigations
Rosen hinted at the possibility of additional charges as investigations into the response to the Minnesota crackdown continue. "If you are actively conspiring to impede law enforcement … you ought to go on the assumption that we’re watching, and we’ll get you," he said.
Meanwhile, Sarah Lazare of Workday Magazine reported on X that the Immigrant Defense Network confirmed a constitutional observer's home in South Minneapolis was raided by federal agencies, resulting in an arrest.
Broader Context
These charges are part of a wider pattern of federal efforts to crack down on opposition to immigration enforcement. Earlier this year, the Trump administration secured its first successful conviction based on antifa terrorism in the Prairieland case in north Texas, involving a non-fatal shooting at a July 4, 2025 noise demonstration, with 22 defendants across federal and state charges. In Spokane, Washington, three activists were convicted of conspiracy charges over an anti-ICE demonstration.
In Illinois, six people were charged with conspiracy over a protest at the Broadview detention facility, though the charges were later dropped amid claims of prosecutorial misconduct. Additionally, nearly 40 others, including journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, face federal charges over a protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where a pastor reportedly worked as an ICE official. Local prosecutors declined to charge the protesters.
