On June 16, 2026, the Justice Department indicted 15 members of a Minneapolis group, Direct Action Minnesota, on charges of conspiracy to impede or injure federal officers during the administration's immigration surge in Minneapolis, alleging the group had “antifa ties.” The indictment accuses members of surveilling and stalking ICE agents, throwing blocks of ice at vehicles, and blockading federal buildings. Some defendants face additional counts, including interstate stalking, destruction of government property, and assault on a federal officer. Twelve were arrested, two remained at large, and one was already in custody.
U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen cited “aggressive use of shields against law enforcement, surveillance, operational planning, and rapid mobilization.” The case is tied to Trump's executive action labeling antifa a domestic-terror entity and directing federal agencies to “investigate, disrupt, and dismantle” it. Civil-liberties critics say the prosecution criminalizes protest against ICE and stretches conspiracy law to cover First Amendment-protected activity (see Pam Bondi Letter to Minnesota on Immigration Enforcement, Anti-ICE Protesters Convicted of 'Material Support for Terrorism' After Prosecutors Argued Wearing Black Constituted Support). Analysts noted the indictment does not allege that any specific defendant injured a federal officer; the charged conduct includes acts like standing in the way of agents and using a shield for protection.
Update (October 4, 2026): All 15 defendants have pleaded not guilty, the Minnesota Reformer reported. Government documents disclosed in the case in August describe a Homeland Security surveillance program, Operation Puppet Master, that infiltrated meetings and obtained unions' financial records (see Undercover DHS Agents Infiltrated Minneapolis Church and Union Meetings in 'Operation Puppet Master,' Court Documents Show).