Washington — Federal authorities arrested 37-year-old Kyle Wagner on Thursday and charged him with threatening to assault and kill agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Justice Department said.
Allegations and Social Media Posts
Prosecutors allege Wagner posted comments and videos on Facebook and Instagram in January urging followers to attack federal immigration officers, whom he called the "gestapo" and "murderers." In a now-deleted video dated Jan. 8, Wagner allegedly warned ICE agents, "we're f**king coming for you," and in subsequent posts he reportedly urged followers to "harass," "hunt" and "unmask" immigration officers.
Authorities say Wagner also published the personal information of an ICE supporter in Michigan — an act commonly described as doxxing — and threatened that individual. Prosecutors cite additional posts on Jan. 9, Jan. 13 and Jan. 24 that they say advocated violence, including a post that said, "If it has to be done at the barrel of a gun, then let us have a little f**king fun."
Arrest and Evidence
Photographs from Thursday show Wagner being led from a Minneapolis residence by agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), part of the Department of Homeland Security, wearing a sweatshirt that reads "I'M ANTIFA!" Antifa is short for "anti-fascist" and refers to a loosely organized, left-wing movement or set of beliefs.
By Thursday, Wagner's social media profiles appeared to have been removed. It was not immediately clear whether he had retained an attorney. He is scheduled to make an initial appearance in federal court on Thursday, according to authorities.
Official Response and Context
"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," Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a Justice Department statement. "Today's arrest illustrates that you cannot run, you cannot hide, and you cannot evade our federal agents: if you come for law enforcement, the Trump Administration will come for you."
The arrest comes amid heightened tensions in Minnesota after the Trump administration launched "Operation Metro Surge" in December to intensify immigration enforcement in the state. Officials said the operation deployed more than 3,000 immigration agents to Minneapolis and has resulted in over 4,000 arrests of people living in the U.S. without authorization.
Protests related to the operation have drawn scrutiny after confrontation between immigration agents and demonstrators. Authorities reported that two protesters, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were fatally shot last month in separate encounters involving immigration officers; the FBI is leading an investigation into the shooting involving Pretti, officials said.
What Happens Next
Wagner faces federal charges for allegedly threatening and encouraging violence against federal officers and for publishing personal information of an ICE supporter. The case will proceed in federal court; prosecutors will present evidence and formal charges at Wagner's initial appearance.
