DOJ Charges 15 Minnesota Activists With Conspiracy Over Resistance to Immigration Crackdown

The U.S. Department of Justice has charged 15 Minnesota residents with conspiring to impede and injure federal officers, alleging they operated as part of an "antifa" network to violently disrupt immigration enforcement.[1][2][3]

U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota Daniel N. Rosen and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Michael McCarthy announced the unsealed indictment on Tuesday. Twelve of the defendants were arrested during morning raids, while one was already in federal custody and two remain at large.[2][3][4]

The charges stem from the defendants' alleged actions during "Operation Metro Surge," a massive and highly controversial immigration crackdown launched by the Trump administration earlier this year that brought thousands of federal agents to the Twin Cities.[2][4][5]

Prosecutors claim the individuals belong to "Direct Action Minnesota" and a subgroup known as the "Black Cat Worker's Collective," which the indictment describes as an anti-fascist affinity group committed to militant tactics. The DOJ alleges the group deployed "hard and soft blockades," stalked federal convoys, and threw blocks of ice at vehicles to thwart agents.[2][3]

Five of the defendants face additional felony charges, including solicitation to commit a crime of violence, interstate stalking, destruction of government property, and assault on a federal officer. Rosen stated that the charges reflect a broad effort to address "organized, lawless behavior" that endangers law enforcement and local communities.[3][4]

However, when pressed by reporters during Tuesday's press conference, Rosen declined to provide specific examples of injuries sustained by federal agents or specify how many officers were harmed. He maintained that causing bodily harm is not a prerequisite for a serious crime, emphasizing that the group deliberately planned violence.[4][6]

The indictments arrive against the backdrop of deep community trauma stemming from Operation Metro Surge. During the winter crackdown, convoys of agents in unmarked SUVs traveled through neighborhoods, sparking panic and resistance. The tension peaked when federal agents fatally shot two civilians, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, in the streets of Minneapolis.[5][6]

The killings, for which no federal agents have been charged, triggered widespread outrage and prompted ordinary citizens to form neighborhood watch networks. Residents routinely followed unmarked ICE vehicles, blew whistles, and honked horns to alert their neighbors to the presence of federal authorities.[2][6]

Activists and civil rights groups immediately condemned Tuesday's arrests as a politically motivated attempt to criminalize dissent. The Immigrant Defense Network reported that federal agents raided the home of a constitutional observer, while local organizers accused the government of targeting whistleblowers to distract from federal violence.[2][5]

"The absurdity that they are arresting people for blowing whistles and observing law enforcement while the murderers of Renee Good and Alex Pretti... walk free is not lost on us," said Drew Harmon, chair of the grassroots group Minnesota 50501.[5]

The DOJ's invocation of "antifa"—a decentralized movement of left-wing activists—aligns with a broader federal crackdown. In 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order classifying antifa as a "domestic terrorist organization," directing agencies to dismantle its networks.[2][4][6]

The Justice Department has faced significant hurdles in prosecuting similar cases in Minnesota. Federal prosecutors have already been forced to drop or dismiss more than a third of the cases brought against protesters during the Metro Surge, including several assault charges that collapsed due to a lack of evidence or allegations of prosecutorial misconduct.[2][7]

In one recent instance, a federal judge barred the DOJ from refiling charges against a U.S. citizen to prevent "prosecutorial harassment." Despite these setbacks, Rosen defended the new indictments, asserting that "the evidence will prove it all out" as the cases proceed to trial.[3][7]

The arrests have reignited tensions between federal authorities and local leaders. Minneapolis City Council member Jason Chavez publicly criticized the DOJ's actions, stating that observing ICE activity and supporting immigrant neighbors is not a crime, and pledged support for those targeted.[3]

As the 12 newly arrested defendants prepare for their initial court appearances, dozens of protesters gathered outside the federal courthouse in St. Paul. Carrying signs demanding an end to FBI entrapment and declaring that protesting is not a crime, the demonstrators signaled that the bitter standoff over federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota is far from over.[2][6]