Federal prosecutors charge 15 individuals for obstructing immigration agents in Minnesota

Federal prosecutors in Minnesota have filed charges against 15 individuals accused of obstructing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during a large-scale immigration enforcement effort earlier this year. The indictment alleges that the defendants coordinated actions to block arrests and deportations, including surveillance, planning and rapid mobilization against law-enforcement personnel, according to U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.

Rosen said several of the accused identified themselves with the term “antifa,” a loosely defined left-wing activist movement. Reported tactics included following ICE agents, throwing ice blocks at vehicles and establishing blockades around federal facilities. Rosen declined to comment on whether any agents were injured, adding that the seriousness of the alleged crime does not depend on physical harm.

Twelve of the defendants were taken into custody on Tuesday, two remain at large and one was already detained. Details about legal representation were not immediately released.

The charges stem from incidents that occurred during the Trump administration’s “Operation Metro Surge,” which deployed thousands of federal agents to the Twin Cities and prompted widespread protests. During the operation, agents in unmarked vehicles conducted door-to-door checks and requested proof of citizenship from residents. Local activists organized responses using neighborhood messaging platforms, whistles and car horns to signal the presence of agents.

Border security official Tom Homan previously indicated that federal authorities were investigating the organization and funding of the attacks on ICE, stating that those responsible would be held accountable. The indictment follows a 2022 executive order that labeled antifa as a domestic terror organization and directed agencies to investigate its affiliates, a designation that has been contested by some lawmakers and civil-rights groups.