DOJ Indicts 15 Minnesota Activists Over Anti-ICE Protests

In the spring of 2026, the Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge deployed more than 4,000 Department of Homeland Security officers to Minneapolis for roughly three months. During that period ICE officers killed two residents—Renee Nicole Good (January 7) and Alex Pretti—and a third, Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna, was shot in a case that later collapsed after the Justice Department admitted false statements by two officers. The operation prompted citywide protests, the formation of rapid-response networks, and the emergence of Direct Action Minnesota, a group described by the government as “dedicated and committed to direct action against federal law and immigration enforcement.”

Salon

Last week the Department of Justice unsealed an indictment charging 15 Minnesota residents with conspiracy to impede or injure federal officers. Prosecutors allege that the defendants blocked ICE facilities, surveilled and harassed agents, and used a Signal group chat to identify government vehicles. The charge sheet cites a Signal message from Macalester College professor Erik Davis requesting “connections to AFL-CIO leadership… PLEASE ASK THEM TO FOCUS ON WHIPPLE AND NOT DOWNTOWN,” and a Facebook post stating “We need to become ungovernable.” No victims are named in the indictment.

The Appeal

U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen emphasized that the absence of injuries to officers “is not the measure of whether or not they committed a serious federal crime.” The indictment is framed as a “crushing blow” to the “Antifa Terrorist Network,” echoing President Donald Trump’s 2025 executive order designating antifa a domestic terrorist organization—an order that has no statutory effect. Prosecutors also referenced the seventh National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM-7), which lists “anti-American,” “anti-capitalist,” and “anti-Christian” views among the targeted ideologies. Former Attorney General Pam Bondi’s memo “ENDING POLITICAL VIOLENCE AGAINST ICE” warned that the Department would prosecute anyone who “aids, abets, or conspires” to impede ICE, regardless of direct violence.

The Appeal

Activists argue the prosecutions aim to silence dissent. Michelle Gross, president of Citizens United Against Police Brutality, said the move has “backfired,” noting a surge in financial support and courtroom attendance for the defendants. Lisa Erbes of the Twin Cities Indivisible chapter warned that similar cases—such as Chicago’s Broadview Six—have been dismissed with prejudice, suggesting the Minnesota case may follow the same pattern. Ezra Levin, national co-director of Indivisible, linked the indictment to a broader “ramp-up” ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, describing it as an effort to suppress voter registration and protest. Union leader Kieran Knutson (Communications Workers of America Local 7250) highlighted that many arrested are active union members, underscoring the perceived targeting of labor organizers.

The Appeal

• “The insane part to me is for them to have any nerve to call anybody in our movement violent when they murdered two of our people and maimed the third,” — Michelle Gross, President, Citizens United Against Police Brutality

Salon

• “We’ve already seen this happen in Chicago with the Broadview Six, and they literally brought the same charges against those people,” — Lisa Erbes, Co-leader, Twin Cities Indivisible

Salon

• “What we’re seeing is a ramp-up from the regime as the midterms near, and I think that’s exactly what you would expect to see from an authoritarian regime that fears free, fair elections,” — Ezra Levin, National Co-director, Indivisible

Salon

• “are ungrounded in fact and law,” — Faiza Patel, Senior Director, Brennan Center for Justice

The Appeal

• “Trade unionists active in worker assemblies are among those who were arrested,” — Kieran Knutson, President, CWA Local 7250

The Appeal

Minnesota officials have requested information on the killings of Good and Pretti but have not filed charges against the officers involved, while the DOJ has pursued the 15 protesters. The indictment lists no victims, and prosecutors have not presented evidence of actual vehicle attacks, despite later video evidence disproving similar claims in Chicago. Additionally, the DOJ’s reliance on a Signal chat and social-media posts raises questions about the evidentiary standard for conspiracy charges.

The Appeal

Legal scholars, including Faiza Patel, warn that the executive order and NSPM-7 could violate First-Amendment protections by criminalizing protected protest activities. The timing of the indictments—months before the 2026 midterms—has intensified concerns that the government is using criminal prosecutions to deter political participation and voter mobilization.

The Appeal

The 15 defendants are scheduled for initial hearings in the coming weeks, with defense teams already raising procedural challenges to the indictment’s reliance on digital communications. Advocacy groups plan to file amicus briefs highlighting constitutional concerns. The case is expected to become a focal point in the broader debate over federal authority, protest rights, and the political climate leading into the 2026 elections.

The Appeal