MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minneapolis man was arrested Thursday on charges of cyberstalking and threatening to kill or assault Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers involved in enforcement actions in Minnesota.
Federal prosecutors announced that Kyle Wagner, 37, faced charges as per a complaint, with a decision on seeking an indictment expected soon. Court records from Detroit, Michigan, where the case is filed, do not indicate that Wagner has legal representation.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi has accused Wagner of doxing and threatening law enforcement officials, claiming ties to antifa while 'encouraging bloodshed in the streets.'
This incident follows President Trump’s designation of antifa as a 'major terrorist organization,' depicting a broader crackdown on antifascist movements. Antifa groups are known for resisting fascists and neo-Nazis, particularly during public demonstrations.
Tom Homan, a border czar for the Trump administration, recently declared the withdrawal of 700 federal officers from Minnesota, conditional upon greater cooperation from local entities and cessation of protests obstructing federal operations.
According to authorities, Wagner frequently posted on social media platforms encouraging his followers to confront and resist federal officers, referring to them derogatorily and urging violent action against them.
The complaint describes a video he posted last month directly threatening ICE officers, leading with an expletive-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,' he stated, ominously claiming he was 'coming for' ICE.
Furthermore, Wagner allegedly incited physical violence in another social media post, declaring that 'anywhere we have an opportunity to get our hands on them, we need to put our hands on them.'
He is also accused of doxing an individual opposed to ICE by sharing personal information online, a move he later confirmed, which included details about the victim's family.
The jurisdiction of this case being filed in Michigan has raised questions, given that the alleged doxing incident is the only apparent connection to that state. Consequently, the U.S. Attorney's office in Minnesota has faced several resignations recently due to contentious immigration cases and their management.
Dan Rosen, Trump's chief federal prosecutor in Minnesota, reported a surge in legal challenges his office faces, citing a lack of resources amidst ongoing immigration enforcement pressures.
With a backdrop of heightened tension and legal scrutiny, this event underscores the troubled landscape of immigration policy enforcement and the contentious debates surrounding civil rights and federal authority.
