Minneapolis Man Faces Federal Charges for Threatening ICE Officers
A Minneapolis man has been arrested on federal charges of cyberstalking and threatening to kill or assault Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, amid ongoing immigration crackdown protests in Minnesota. The case highlights escalating tensions over federal immigration enforcement policies.
Details of the Federal Complaint
Federal prosecutors announced that 37-year-old Kyle Wagner was charged by complaint on Thursday, with officials determining whether to seek an indictment to proceed to trial. Court records from Detroit, Michigan, where the case was filed, show no attorney currently representing Wagner. The complaint was initially filed on Tuesday and unsealed on Thursday, revealing serious allegations against the Minneapolis resident.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated that Wagner doxed and threatened law enforcement officers, claimed affiliation with antifa, and "encouraged bloodshed in the streets" through his online activities. These allegations come as President Donald Trump designated antifa as a "major terrorist organization" in September, though antifa represents an umbrella term for various far-left militant groups rather than a single entity.
Online Threats and Doxing Allegations
According to prosecutors, Wagner repeatedly used Facebook and Instagram to encourage his followers to "forcibly confront, assault, impede, oppose, and resist federal officers" whom he referred to as the "gestapo" and "murderers." The complaint details a video posted last month in which Wagner directly threatened ICE officers with an obscenity-laden rant.
"I've already bled for this city, I've already fought for this city, this is nothing new, we're ready this time," Wagner declared in the video, concluding with the statement that he was "coming for" ICE. In another post, he advocated for physical confrontation, stating: "Anywhere we have an opportunity to get our hands on them, we need to put our hands on them."
The complaint further alleges that Wagner used his Instagram account to dox a person identified only as a "pro-ICE individual" by publishing their phone number, birth month and year, and address in Oak Park, Michigan, a Detroit suburb. Wagner later admitted to doxing the victim's parents' house, according to court documents.
Immigration Enforcement Context
The charges emerge against the backdrop of significant immigration enforcement activities in Minnesota. When Trump administration border czar Tom Homan announced on Wednesday that approximately 700 federal officers deployed to Minnesota would be withdrawn immediately, he clarified that a larger pullout would only occur after increased cooperation and cessation of protester interference with federal personnel.
Federal prosecutors have not immediately responded to inquiries about why the case was filed in Michigan rather than Minnesota, though the alleged doxing incident provides the only Michigan connection listed in the complaint. The situation underscores the complex legal and geographical dimensions of cyberstalking cases involving federal officers.
The Minneapolis case represents a significant development in the ongoing national debate about immigration enforcement, protest tactics, and the boundaries of online speech. As federal authorities continue to investigate similar incidents, this prosecution may establish important precedents for how threats against law enforcement officers are handled in the digital age.
