Civil War Law Employed to Target Protesters Amid ICE Actions

WHO:

Alternet - Treasure Thoreson, a Minneapolis special education teacher, was arrested along with 14 others.

NPR - Aaron Terr, director of public advocacy at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, expressed concerns about the trend of conspiracy charges.

NPR - Katie Schwartzmann, legal counsel with Protect Democracy, commented on the indictments against protesters.

WHAT:

Alternet - Thoreson and 14 others were charged with "conspiracy to impede federal agents" for using "blockades" outside the Whipple Federal Building.

Alternet - The charge of "conspiracy to impede or injure an officer" can carry a sentence of up to six years in federal prison.

NPR - Since Trump took office, more than three dozen people have been prosecuted under this law in fewer than 10 cases, all related to protests against federal immigration enforcement.

NPR - Nearly 50 people have been indicted on conspiracy charges using different statutes in Michigan, Texas, and Minnesota.

NPR - In Spokane, Washington, about 30 people were arrested for linking arms to block the transport of two people detained by ICE.

WHERE:

Alternet - The Whipple Federal Building, where ICE is headquartered, is located in Minnesota.

NPR - Protests occurred in Spokane, Washington, Chicago, Illinois, and Texas.

WHEN:

NPR - The statute used for the charges dates back to the Civil War.

NPR - The Justice Department ordered U.S. attorneys to prioritize prosecuting protesters after a protest in Spokane last summer.

WHY:

Alternet - The increase in conspiracy charges is viewed by legal experts as a potential attempt to target political activists opposing the Trump administration's deportation agenda.

NPR - The government stated that people should not mistake violence against law enforcement or impeding officers performing their duties with peaceful protest.

HOW:

Alternet - The government cited meetings and conversations on the encrypted messaging app Signal as evidence for the conspiracy charges against Thoreson and others.

NPR - The DOJ directed U.S. attorneys to charge protesters "with the highest provable offense available under the law" following incidents of property destruction or assaults on law enforcement.

(UPDATED August 3, 2026 22:06 UTC)

Treasure Thoreson, a special education teacher from Minneapolis, has been arrested along with 14 others and charged with conspiracy to impede federal agents for using blockades outside the Whipple Federal Building. Legal experts are raising concerns about the increase in conspiracy charges, which they view as a potential effort to target political activists opposing Trump's deportation agenda, especially since nearly 50 people have been indicted on similar charges across various states. The government has cited evidence from encrypted conversations on the app Signal as part of the case against Thoreson and her co-defendants, while emphasizing that peaceful protest should not be confused with violence against law enforcement.