Minneapolis Man Arrested on Federal Charges for Alleged Threats Against ICE Officers
MINNEAPOLIS — A Minneapolis activist was arrested Thursday by federal agents on charges of cyberstalking and conspiring to threaten federal law enforcement officers. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) announced the arrest of 37-year-old Kyle Wagner, who authorities allege used social media to incite violence against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents operating in Minnesota.
According to federal prosecutors, Wagner is charged with cyberstalking and making interstate threats to injure or kill federal officers. The criminal complaint, unsealed Thursday, details a series of social media posts on Facebook and Instagram in which Wagner allegedly encouraged his followers to “forcibly confront, assault, impede, oppose, and resist” federal agents.
The arrest comes amid heightened tensions and a surge in federal law enforcement presence in the Twin Cities following the recent shooting of Alex Pretti. Investigators state that Wagner’s online rhetoric escalated during this period. In one video cited in the complaint, Wagner allegedly referred to federal agents as the “gestapo” and “murderers,” urging followers to identify and “unmask” officers. The DOJ asserts that Wagner doxed a perceived supporter of ICE operations and made specific calls for “boots on the ground” to oppose federal personnel.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi issued a statement regarding the arrest, characterizing Wagner as a “self-identified Antifa member” who “proudly claimed affiliation” with the group.
“This man allegedly doxxed and called for the murder of law enforcement officers, encouraged bloodshed in the streets, and proudly claimed affiliation with the terrorist organization Antifa before going on the run,” Bondi said. “Today’s arrest illustrates that you cannot run, you cannot hide, and you cannot evade our federal agents.”
Photos from the scene of the arrest appear to show Wagner being led from a residential building in Minneapolis by HSI agents while wearing a sweatshirt with the text “I’M ANTIFA!” printed on it.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche also commented on the case, stating, “It’s no surprise that an Antifa terrorist is allegedly threatening to kill and assault federal law enforcement officers as they dutifully remove criminal threats from neighborhoods.”
Wagner made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Minnesota on Thursday. Court records filed in Detroit, Michigan—where the cyberstalking complaint originated—do not currently list an attorney authorized to speak on his behalf. If convicted, Wagner faces significant federal prison time for the alleged offenses.
The case is part of a broader federal response to ongoing protests and civil unrest in Minnesota. While Wagner’s supporters claim his posts were political speech intended to protect the community, federal authorities maintain that his specific calls for violence and identification of officers crossed the line into criminal conduct.
