Left-wing Minnesota lawmakers and Minneapolis City Council members blasted federal charges against 15 people accused of organizing efforts to obstruct immigration enforcement operations, with some elected officials dismissing the case as “political repression” and “bogus” prosecutions.
The criticism came hours after the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Minnesota on Tuesday unveiled an eight-count federal indictment alleging that members and associates of Antifa-linked groups coordinated efforts to impede federal immigration operations, stalk federal officers, solicit violence, assault law enforcement personnel and damage government property during ICE’s “Operation Metro Surge” earlier this year.
Omar calls charges ‘bogus’
In a post on X, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., accused the Trump administration of using the criminal justice system to silence political opposition.
“While the killers of Renee Good and Alex Pretti walk free, the DOJ is busy bringing bogus charges against protesters,” Omar wrote. “The Administration thinks intimidation will make us back down. They keep learning the same lesson: Minnesotans don’t scare easily. We organize for our rights.”
Good and Pretti were killed by federal immigration officers in separate incidents earlier this year.
While the killers of Renée Good and Alex Pretti walk free, the DOJ is busy bringing bogus charges against protesters.
The Administration thinks intimidation will make us back down.
They keep learning the same lesson: Minnesotans don't scare easily. We organize for our rights ✊🏽
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) June 16, 2026
Minneapolis council members denounce arrests
Four Minneapolis City Council members — Robin Wonsley, Soren Stevenson, Jason Chavez and Aisha Chughtai — issued a joint statement condemning the arrests.
The council members, who identify as democratic socialists, portrayed those charged not as violent agitators but as community members attempting to protect immigrants from federal enforcement operations they view as harmful.
“This is an act of political repression meant to intimidate and terrorize the same people who have been caring for our neighbors and keeping our communities safe from violent immigration agents,” the statement said.
The group called for charges against what they described as “observers and political organizers” to be dropped and demanded the return of individuals detained by ICE.
“Observation of law enforcement is not a crime. Protecting our neighbors against unconstitutional violence is not a crime,” the statement said.
The council members also accused federal authorities of employing a “fascist playbook” and praised community “resistance” efforts.
“The charges being brought against our neighbors who defended the community are an attack on everything Minneapolis stands for,” they said. “Across the world, Minneapolis residents are seen as heroes for the ways we resisted fascism and took care of our neighbors.”
The new charges also resurfaced criticism of Attorney General Keith Ellison’s past comments regarding Antifa.
In 2018, a smiling Ellison posted a photo of himself holding “Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook,” which he said would “strike fear in the heart” of President Donald Trump.
Prosecutors describe charges
Federal prosecutors painted a dramatically different picture during Tuesday’s news conference, describing the alleged conduct as a coordinated campaign of intimidation and violence directed at federal agents.
U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen repeatedly rejected suggestions that the case involved protected political activity, arguing instead that investigators uncovered evidence of deliberate planning, targeted harassment and organized efforts to obstruct law enforcement operations.
As part of the presentation, Rosen played video footage showing defendant Kyle Wagner — who identified himself as Antifa — urging supporters to confront federal agents.
In the video, Wagner can be heard telling supporters to “get your f-cking guns and stop these f-cking people.”
The indictment alleges defendants used encrypted communications, coordinated surveillance of federal officers, and organized actions designed to disrupt immigration enforcement activities.
According to Rosen, defendants also used overturned vehicles, RV trailers, barricades, and other obstacles to obstruct roads used by federal officers near the Whipple Federal Building.
Additionally, prosecutors allege they stalked and followed federal officers away from government facilities and to their homes.
“YOU WILL NEVER WIN WITH NON-VIOLENCE ALONE. Ever,” one of the defendants allegedly said.
Sharp divide on display
Yet as Rosen outlined what prosecutors described as a coordinated campaign of stalking, obstruction, and violence, some reporters appeared more interested in challenging the legitimacy of the case.
“How can juries be assured that what’s in this indictment and these affidavits is true and based on facts?” one reporter asked.
Another questioned whether the case amounted to a “thought crime” rather than a prosecution based on criminal conduct.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security also weighed in on media coverage of the case, publicly criticizing Minnesota news outlets including the Star Tribune and WCCO.
In a post on X, DHS accused the Star Tribune of downplaying violence directed at federal agents.
“It’s DISTURBING that mainstream media outlets like the @StarTribune continue to excuse violence against law enforcement,” the agency wrote. “Excusing the violent behavior of these rioters by calling them ‘anti-ICE demonstrators’ is irresponsible and reckless — especially as our officers are facing an 8,000% increase in death threats and a 1,300% increase in assaults against them.”
DHS also took aim at a WCCO headline, arguing it mischaracterized the charges.
“What a DISHONEST headline from @WCCO,” the agency wrote. “These violent rioters weren’t charged for ‘opposing immigration enforcement’ — they were charged because they violently obstructed and assaulted law enforcement agents and destroyed government property.”
It’s DISTURBING that mainstream media outlets like the @StarTribune continue to excuse violence against law enforcement.
Excusing the violent behavior of these rioters by calling them “anti-ICE demonstrators” is irresponsible and reckless — especially as our officers are facing… https://t.co/I1ryT5zoal pic.twitter.com/CpksWlFDVa
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) June 16, 2026
Throughout the exchange with the media, Rosen repeatedly emphasized that the government’s case was based on actions, communications, and conduct detailed in the indictment, not political viewpoints.
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
