The Justice Department announced criminal charges against 15 people in Minnesota accused of “violently” impeding federal immigration enforcement, including allegations tied to anti-fascist Direct Action Minnesota. Twelve were arrested Tuesday, two remain at la
For a second day in Minnesota, federal investigators were in the middle of a fight that started on the street and ended inside a courtroom—at least for 12 of the people charged Tuesday.
The Justice Department announced charges against 15 individuals accused of “violently” impeding federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota. Prosecutors say the allegations involve a range of conduct. from conspiracy to impede or injure federal officers to assault on a federal officer. destruction of government property. interstate threats. and interstate stalking. The Justice Department also alleges solicitation to commit a crime of violence.
Twelve of the 15 people were arrested Tuesday, two remain at large, and one person was already in custody for previous charges.
U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen used the moment to frame the case as more than isolated disorder. “Today’s charges and arrests reflect a broad federal effort to address organized lawless behavior. which seeks to disrupt the execution of federal law. endanger law enforcement and importantly. endanger the very communities that these defendants falsely claim to be protecting. ” Rosen said Tuesday at a news conference.
Rosen said the 15 charged are part of Direct Action Minnesota, which he described as an anti-fascist organization that trains its members in aggressive use of shields against police.
In Rosen’s account, the conduct was tied to last year’s Operation Metro Surge, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in Minnesota aimed at arresting and deporting undocumented immigrants. Rosen said Direct Action Minnesota “infiltrated” protests during the operation and “carry out unlawful” actions that targeted ICE as well as federal and state police.
He detailed tactics prosecutors say were used to slow or block law enforcement. Rosen said members used cars and ice blocks to obstruct roads used by police. He said they used homemade shields to resist police on foot. He also said they followed and harassed police.
Rosen’s remarks turned personal in tone as he described the legal stakes for defendants. “Such stalking and other direct actions against law enforcement are criminal, they’re un-American, and they’ll be met with swift justice,” he said.
Homeland Security Investigations St. Paul special agent Michael McCarthy echoed the urgency. calling the alleged disruption “a deeply concerning trend.” “These acts were designed to create chaos. disrupt operations and threaten the safety of our offices in our community. ” McCarthy said at Tuesday’s news conference.
Even with arrests underway. the case lands in a legal landscape where federal prosecutors have sometimes struggled to sustain charges tied to ICE protests. Federal prosecutors have arrested and charged 36 people for assaulting or impeding officers related to the ICE protests. but 29 of the cases have been dropped. according to MPR News.
The sequence of Tuesday’s announcements is stark: charges, arrests, and a description of protesters as coordinated actors who prosecutors say meant to disrupt operations and endanger officers—followed by a reminder that similar efforts have not always survived in court.
For now. the immediate reality in Minnesota is that 12 people will face federal proceedings after Tuesday’s arrests. two are still at large. and one is already in custody from earlier charges. as prosecutors move to test how far they can reach when protests. immigration enforcement. and allegations of violence collide on the same roads.
Minnesota Justice Department Daniel Rosen Direct Action Minnesota ICE Operation Metro Surge Homeland Security Investigations federal charges immigration enforcement federal officers protests
So 15 people got charged for… protesting? Sounds like they’re cracking down hard.
“Violently” impeding federal immigration enforcement?? I feel like this is just gonna turn into ICE propaganda again. Like if you didn’t watch it in person you won’t know what really happened.
Wait Operation Metro Surge was last year right? So the whole thing started on the street and somehow ends in court… convenient timing. Also anti-fascist orgs use shields? That’s basically just how protests work though, unless they’re like actually throwing stuff.
I don’t get why ICE gets to call themselves the victims. If they’re “entering” the community to arrest people, then of course people are gonna show up. And the article says one person was already in custody but also two are at large like… who even knows what’s going on. Minnesota always has weird politics, I swear.