The US Justice Department charged 15 Minnesota activists described as members of Antifa with multiple crimes, including conspiracy to impede or injure federal officers, solicitation to commit violence, interstate threats, interstate stalking, assaulting federal officers, and destruction of government property [1, 2, 3]. Twelve of the defendants were taken into custody on the morning of June 16, 2026; two remain at large and one had been detained earlier [1, 2, 3].
The defendants are linked to Direct Action Minnesota, also called Direct Action Minnesota Network (DAMN), which organized protests targeting federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Minneapolis [1, 2, 3]. The charges relate to actions during protests connected to "Operation Metro Surge," the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota from December 2025 to February 2026 [1]. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz criticized the crackdown, saying: "Operation Metro Surge was nothing but a show of force to intimidate states that voted against Trump. Thankfully, Minnesotans showed the country what standing up to authoritarianism looks like." [1]
Authorities say the defendants used blockades such as overturned RV trailers and homemade shields, assaulted federal officers, and followed federal agents to their homes, sometimes across state lines [2, 3]. Homeland Security Special Agent Michael McCarthy said, "When protest turns into rioting, violence, or criminal activity, it becomes unlawful." [2]
US Attorney Dan Rosen emphasized that the charges are based on the defendants’ actions, not their speech. He stated, "Political violence is a national scourge in our times," and added, "These defendants have been charged not for what they said, but for what they did." [1, 2]
The Trump administration designated Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization in September 2025 [2]. Earlier in Operation Metro Surge, two US citizens were shot dead in January 2026, triggering nationwide outrage [1].
The Justice Department announced the criminal charges on June 16, 2026, when most arrests occurred [1, 2, 3]. Two defendants remain at large as authorities continue their search [1, 2].
