Erik Davis, a 53-year-old college professor, was arrested on 16 June in St Paul, Minnesota, on charges of being part of a "conspiracy" to "impede or injure" Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. He faces a potential six-year prison sentence.
The government alleges that Davis and 14 other defendants used "force, intimidation, and threats" to prevent officers from carrying out their duties. The indictment also claims that Direct Action Minnesota, a coalition Davis was connected with, had "ties" to "antifa".
Prosecutors have not alleged any specific injuries to officers in Minnesota. Davis is not accused of violent acts, taking specific actions at protests, or having encounters with ICE agents. The indictment states he attended and facilitated meetings about protests and discussed his "anti-authoritarian" ideology.
Civil rights advocates have suggested these prosecutions are part of an effort to criminalise lawful community organising and weaken movements opposing deportations.