MINNEAPOLIS MN, January 28, 2026 – U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Wednesday that federal agents have arrested 16 individuals in Minnesota for allegedly assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal law enforcement officers during ongoing protests against immigration enforcement operations.
Bondi, who stated she was “on the ground in Minneapolis,” shared the update via a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing that the Department of Justice under President Donald Trump remains committed to enforcing the law. “We expect more arrests to come,” she wrote. “NOTHING will stop President Trump and this Department of Justice from enforcing the law.”
The arrests stem from clashes tied to heightened federal immigration enforcement in the region, including operations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Protests in Minneapolis have intensified in recent days following reports of fatal encounters involving federal agents, sparking widespread demonstrations against deportation efforts.
The 16 individuals were charged under 18 U.S. Code § 111, a federal statute prohibiting assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees. Bondi released the following names of those arrested which are Christina Rank, Abdikadir Noor, Madeline Tschida, Nitzana Flores, Helicity Borowska, Quentin Williams, William Vermie, Paul Johnson, Gillian Etherington, Joshua Doyle, Kirubele Adbebe, Margaret Sager, Ilan Wilson-Soler, Nasra Ahmed, Alice Valentine and Matrim Charlebois.
Accompanying her announcement, Bondi posted photographs showing several of the arrested individuals in custody alongside Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officers, some in restraints during processing.
The protests have included vigils, marches, and reports of property damage, with some incidents involving vandalism at hotels believed to be housing federal personnel. Local and federal authorities have described certain actions as escalating into violence against law enforcement.
Reactions to the arrests have been polarized. Supporters of the DOJ’s actions praised the move as necessary to protect federal agents amid a reported surge in assaults. Critics, including some activists, have questioned the federal response and called for transparency in ongoing immigration operations.
The developments come amid broader national debates over immigration policy in the early days of President Trump’s second term. Additional arrests are anticipated as investigations continue.
Life News Agency will provide updates as more information becomes available.
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