15 charged with obstructing federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota

Federal prosecutors have charged 15 people with impeding the Trump administration's immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota, accusing them of coordinating a conspiracy to block deportations and obstruct federal agents. The charges were announced by Minnesota U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen during a news conference on Tuesday, following a monthslong investigation into activist groups described as having "violently opposed the enforcement of federal law."

The defendants are affiliated with "Direct Action Minnesota," a left-wing coalition of protest groups that organized opposition to Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration's sweeping immigration crackdown launched in January. According to prosecutors, their activities included surveillance of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, throwing blocks of ice at ICE vehicles, establishing blockades around federal buildings, and distributing shields to demonstrators. The alleged conspiracy emerged in response to the federal operation, which brought thousands of agents into the Twin Cities area and resulted in more than 4,000 arrests. Protesters quickly established anonymous Signal chat networks to track ICE agent movements and used whistles and car horns to alert communities to ongoing detentions.

Each of the 15 defendants faces conspiracy charges carrying a maximum sentence of six years in prison. Three additional defendants face supplementary charges including interstate stalking, assault on a federal officer, and destruction of government property. One defendant, Kyle Wagner, 37, had previously been arrested on charges of making online threats against ICE officers. Rosen stated that whether federal agents sustained bodily injury was not determinative of guilt, emphasizing that obstruction itself constitutes a serious federal crime.

The charges reflect the Trump administration's broader focus on prosecuting anti-government protesters, particularly those associated with the antifa movement. In March 2026, eight people with alleged antifa ties were convicted on terrorism charges in a Texas shooting case, marking the first prosecution of its kind. Border czar Tom Homan previously signaled that federal authorities were investigating the "organization and funding of the attacks on ICE," vowing that those responsible "will be held accountable."

On Tuesday afternoon, dozens of protesters gathered outside the federal courthouse in St. Paul where defendants were scheduled to make initial appearances. As some attempted to block the courthouse entrance, federal officers in tactical gear deployed pepper spray against the crowd. Information regarding the defendants' legal representation was not immediately available at the time of announcement.