RSF Reports Multiple Attacks on Journalists Amid Federal Enforcement Actions in Minnesota

January 20, 2026 – USA –

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has documented a concerning pattern of violent attacks and intimidation against journalists in Minnesota, particularly in the context of federal immigration enforcement operations and large-scale protests that followed deadly encounters between ICE agents and civilians early in 2026. The report, published on January 20, 2026, marks these incidents as part of a broader deterioration in press freedom conditions in the United States during the opening year of the Trump administration’s second term.

According to RSF, at least six journalists and media workers were physically assaulted by federal agents in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul since the start of the year while covering demonstrations and enforcement activities connected to the controversial ICE “surge” operations, which intensified after the January 7 fatal shooting of civilian legal observer Renée Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. Despite widespread public scrutiny and protests over Good’s death, federal authorities have defended the agent’s actions, and the Department of Justice has declined to open an independent criminal investigation, a decision that has fueled broader tensions between law enforcement and local communities.

RSF’s assessment also highlights that journalists reporting on these protests have faced increasing hostility, harassment, and physical harm from agents seeking to control information and limit independent coverage of enforcement operations. In some cases, journalists and citizen reporters were struck with crowd-control munitions, pushed or otherwise interfered with by law enforcement while documenting protests and clashes, raising concerns about the protection of press freedom and the constitutional rights of journalists covering matters of significant public interest.

The report additionally notes that federal officials have threatened criminal charges against independent journalists, including prominent media figures, for their coverage of protests and enforcement actions — a development RSF describes as indicative of growing governmental antagonism toward critical reporting. These threats have the potential to create a chilling effect on journalists’ willingness to cover contentious events, undermining the press’s role in holding authorities accountable.

While RSF’s database did not record any journalists killed in connection with these Minnesota incidents as of late January 2026, the organisation emphasises that physical attacks, legal threats, and obstruction of reporting activities constitute serious violations of press freedom norms and can escalate into more severe consequences if left unchecked. Advocacy groups have called on U.S. authorities to uphold constitutional protections for the press, ensure the safety of journalists in the field, and investigate all reported assaults by federal agents comprehensively.

RSF’s coverage of press freedom issues in the United States forms part of its broader global monitoring, which documents threats to journalists in both conflict zones and stable democracies alike — reflecting deep concerns about the safety and independence of journalists in challenging environments worldwide.

Reference – 

https://rsf.org/en/attacks-journalists-minnesota-cap-trump-s-first-year-back-office