DOJ charges 15 Twin Cities residents in alleged conspiracy tied to anti-ICE protests

The defendants were in Federal Court in St. Paul hours after the charges were announced. A large and vocal crowd showed up in support of those indicted and the First Amendment.

Federal authorities announced charges Tuesday against 15 Twin Cities residents accused of participating in a conspiracy to obstruct immigration enforcement operations during protests connected to Operation Metro Surge.

U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy said the defendants are members or associates of Direct Action Minnesota, which prosecutors allege includes members of the Black Hat Workers Collective.

The indictment charges the defendants with offenses including conspiracy to impede or injure federal officers, solicitation to commit crimes of violence, interstate threats, interstate stalking, assault on federal officers and destruction of government property.

Authorities said 12 people were arrested Tuesday morning, one defendant was already in federal custody and two remain at large.

Prosecutors allege members of the group organized actions targeting federal immigration operations during Operation Metro Surge, the federal enforcement invasion that sparked months of protests across the Twin Cities following the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents. Rosen confirmed that federal investigations into the fatal shootings remain ongoing but declined to provide additional details.

According to Rosen, the indictment focuses on actions that allegedly took place Jan. 23 and March 1 near the federal Whipple Building. Prosecutors claim participants used vehicles, trailers and homemade shields to block law enforcement operations and, in some cases, followed officers away from federal facilities.

"These defendants have been charged not for what they said, but for what they did," Rosen said during the press conference.

Reporters questioned Rosen about numerous Operation Metro Surge cases that have already been dismissed or resolved without prosecution. Rosen defended the new case and said evidence supporting the indictment would emerge through the court process.

U.S. Marshals sprayed chemicals at protesters outside the Federal building on Tuesday. According to our Harry Colbert, one woman was hit directly with tear gas began convulsing and was taken away in an ambulance. A Sahan Journal reporter was also directly affected by the spray