Federal prosecutors in Spokane, Wash., opened a trial against three activists accused of conspiring to impede ICE officers during a June 2025 demonstration. The case stems from a protest that blocked a van transporting two legally present Venezuelan immigrants, prompting police to deploy smoke grenades and pepper balls. Lawyers argue the government is stretching criminal theory to silence dissent.

The indictment, signed by U.S. Attorney Stephanie Van Marter, invokes conspiracy charges traditionally reserved for violent plots, yet the alleged conduct involved linked arms, spray‑painted windows and deflated tires. Six other defendants accepted plea deals, avoiding a jury. Each of the three trial defendants faces up to six years behind bars if convicted, a penalty that far exceeds typical misdemeanor protest penalties.

Legal scholars see the trial as a bellwether for the Justice Department’s post‑Trump directive to prioritize immigration‑related protests. A former Eastern Washington U.S. attorney resigned rather than approve the charges, underscoring internal disagreement. A conviction could embolden prosecutors to pursue similar tactics nationally, raising the stakes for organizers of future civil‑disobedience actions.