Minneapolis Prosecutors Refuse To Charge Anti ICE Protesters

The city of Minneapolis saw weeks of anti-ICE unrest, but charging data from Hennepin County and Minneapolis city prosecutors show relatively few formal prosecutions. County records show 21 referrals with no county-filed charges as of Feb. 3, while the city filed about 15 formal complaints and roughly 90 misdemeanor citations were issued by law enforcement. Those numbers, set against reports of blockades, declared riots, and attacks on officers, raise questions about prosecutorial choices and whether public safety and equal application of the law are being prioritized.

When protests turn into disruptions that endanger people and block emergency access, the public expects decisive enforcement. Minneapolis has been the center of national debate over unrest for years, and the way prosecutors handle cases matters as much as police decisions do. Charging choices send a message about whether laws will protect ordinary residents and their property.

Hennepin County’s data shows 21 referrals for prosecution stemming from the protests, with most cases in review and none filed by the county prosecutor as of Feb. 3. Of those referrals, 11 were listed as in review, nine were handled by law enforcement via citation, and one was dismissed. Because county prosecutors handle felonies, the absence of county-filed felony prosecutions through that date is notable given the reported severity of some incidents.

As of Feb. 3, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has received 21 referrals for prosecution stemming from the recent wave of disruptive and sometimes violent protests against ICE. Of those cases, 11 submissions are in “a review stage,” nine were charged directly by law enforcement officers via citation, and one was dismissed.

At the city level, the Minneapolis City Attorney’s Office filed around 15 formal complaints initiating criminal proceedings against protesters. Between Jan. 9 and Feb. 6, the office received referrals for 16 protest cases, most of which resulted in charges while one remained under review. Meanwhile law enforcement issued roughly 90 misdemeanor citations, which can be resolved administratively and do not always lead to sustained prosecution.

According to city data, prosecutors in Minneapolis have filed just 15 formal complaints initiating criminal proceedings against protesters. Between Jan. 9 and Feb. 6, the Minneapolis City Attorney’s Office received referrals for 16 protest cases. Out of those, one is still pending review, and the rest resulted in charges.

Those totals look small next to the visible unrest: street blockades that interfered with traffic in Minneapolis and St. Paul, declared riots, and reports of assaults against officers. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said officers were struck with fireworks, ice projectiles, and snowballs during a declared riot attended by more than 100 activists. Under Minnesota law, blocking roadways or impeding emergency access can be misdemeanors, and assaulting officers can reach felony levels.

Local defense attorneys and observers reacted sharply to the low numbers. One criminal defense lawyer expressed disbelief at the few citations issued, arguing the tally should be much higher based on what was seen in public. That reaction highlights the gap between visible disruption and the relatively modest set of formal prosecutions moving forward.

“Only nine citations?” Hansen said. “I’m shocked. That’s insane. There should probably be hundreds of citations based upon what I’ve seen.”

That same attorney warned about unequal enforcement and the ripple effects on everyday people who rely on consistent government services. He pointed out that inconsistent charging affects everyone, not just one political faction, because blocked roads and delayed emergency response harm residents across the spectrum. Those remarks speak to a broader concern: selective or restrained enforcement undermines trust in public safety and the rule of law.

“Not charging the blocking of the road, it affects everybody,” Hansen said. “It could be a super right-wing person who’s having a heart attack, or somebody’s a super left-wing person, or somebody who has no political ideology. It doesn’t matter. Everybody deserves equal services from the government that they pay for and that they elected.”

Political context matters. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty has publicly voiced support for anti-ICE demonstrations and criticized federal immigration enforcement in social media posts. That posture influences public perception of the limited number of county-filed charges and intensifies scrutiny over prosecutorial discretion in politically charged cases.

Prosecutors do have discretion, but when discretion coincides with visible unrest, the public will ask whether it’s being used to protect safety or to reward a political outcome. The numbers in Minneapolis are concrete: a small number of formal complaints at the city level, roughly 90 citations, and no county-filed felony charges reported by Feb. 3. Those facts will fuel debate about priorities in a city that has repeatedly tested the balance between protest rights and law enforcement.

Minneapolis residents and officials who care about public safety deserve clear answers about enforcement priorities and consistent application of the law. The settlement between vigorous protest and orderly civic life depends on both police action and prosecutorial follow-through, especially when obstruction, threats, and assaults are part of the public record.