Authorities said 15 defendants are accused of working with Minneapolis-based Antifa groups to obstruct federal immigration operations through threats, assaults and property destruction.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Federal prosecutors in Minnesota announced Tuesday that 15 people have been charged in an alleged conspiracy to violently interfere with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the state.
Daniel Rosen, who leads the U.S. attorney’s office for Minnesota, said during a news conference at his Minneapolis headquarters that federal agents had arrested 12 of the 15 suspects. One defendant was already in custody on unrelated charges, while two remained at large.
The defendants face multiple charges, including conspiracy to impede or injure a federal officer, solicitation to commit a crime of violence, interstate threats, interstate stalking, assault on a federal officer and destruction of government property.
Rosen said many of the alleged offenses are connected to a group called “Direct Action Minnesota.” Authorities also accused the suspects of conspiring with two Minneapolis-based Antifa groups to disrupt immigration enforcement activity.
The announcement follows months of clashes involving immigration-enforcement officers and protesters in Minnesota, where federal agencies increased operations after allegations that immigrant networks had defrauded government programs on a large scale.
Minnesota became a focus of anti-ICE demonstrations after that enforcement push. Some of the resistance activity allegedly involved Antifa-linked groups, according to authorities.
The charges also come after President Donald Trump’s administration said it was investigating Antifa organizations. Trump issued a directive in September 2025 aimed at disrupting and dismantling Antifa after designating it a “domestic terrorist organization.” The following month, Trump held a roundtable discussion with journalists and commentators who said they had been targeted with threats or violence by Antifa.
Antifa, short for “antifascist,” is described by federal officials and critics as a far-left extremist movement whose adherents label opponents as “fascists” and often endorse using force or disruptive tactics against those they oppose. The movement’s roots have been traced by critics to militant left-wing organizing in Europe, including groups tied to communist politics.
The Minnesota case follows two deadly incidents earlier this year involving opponents of ICE. In separate January confrontations, ICE opponents Renee Good and Alex Pretti were fatally shot by federal agents during protests. The provided information did not report any Antifa connection to either shooting.
Federal officials did not immediately provide additional details on the two suspects still at large or the specific alleged actions tied to each defendant.
The case marks one of the Trump administration’s most direct criminal actions so far against defendants accused of coordinating with Antifa-linked groups to interfere with federal immigration enforcement.
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