Minnesota Activist Arrested for Threatening ICE Agents: Kyle Wagner Faces Federal Charges
A Minnesota activist, Kyle Wagner, was arrested and charged with threatening to assault and kill Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Wagner allegedly posted comments and videos on social media encouraging his followers to attack federal immigration officers, referring to them as the "gestapo" and "murderers." He is set to appear in federal court soon. Wagner was seen being taken into custody by agents from Homeland Security Investigations in Minneapolis.
In one of the videos, Wagner reportedly threatened ICE agents, stating that they were coming for them. He also urged his followers to harass immigration officers and said they should be crippled. Wagner's social media accounts have been deleted, and it is unclear if he has legal representation. He allegedly called for the identification and prosecution of ICE agents and promoted violence against them.
The Justice Department accused Wagner of doxxing an ICE supporter in Michigan and making threats against the individual. Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned Wagner's actions, stating that he cannot evade federal agents. Protests erupted in Minnesota in response to Operation Metro Surge, a Trump administration initiative to increase immigration enforcement in the state. Over 4,000 people in the U.S. illegally were arrested as part of the operation.
Following the protests, White House border czar Tom Homan announced a withdrawal of 700 law enforcement personnel from Minnesota, while approximately 2,000 ICE officers will remain in the state. The move comes amid scrutiny of the tactics used by immigration agents against protesters in Minneapolis. Wagner's arrest highlights the government's stance on threats against law enforcement officers and the consequences of such actions.