3 Activists Face Federal Conspiracy Trial Over 2025 Spokane ICE Protest
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 17
3 Activists Face Federal Conspiracy Trial Over 2025 Spokane ICE Protest
2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 17
Three activists — Bajun Mavalwalla II, Justice Forral and Jac Archer — go on trial Monday on federal conspiracy charges tied to a June 11, 2025, Spokane protest against an ICE transfer.
Prosecutors say they coordinated to impede or injure federal officers after demonstrators linked arms, blocked entrances and driveways, and disabled a transport van by spray-painting its windows and deflating its tires.
More than 30 people were arrested that day, mostly on misdemeanor protest charges such as trespassing and failure to disperse, while six other defendants later accepted plea deals to avoid trial.
The case is being watched as a test of the Trump administration's effort to prioritize immigration protest prosecutions by using conspiracy charges against organizers and demonstrators not accused of specific violent acts.
The charging strategy was contentious enough that Eastern Washington's top federal prosecutor resigned rather than approve the case, underscoring the broader stakes beyond Spokane.
As similar protest cases collapse nationwide, can prosecutors prove the Spokane Three's dissent was a criminal conspiracy?
Where does the law draw the line between protected civil disobedience and a criminal plot to impede federal officers?
Spokane ICE Protest Trial: National Test Case for Federal Conspiracy Charges Against Activists
Overview
The Spokane ICE protest trial, beginning May 18, 2026, will closely examine the actions of both protesters and federal authorities, with Justice Forral, Jac Archer, and Bajun Mavalwalla II facing federal charges. Judge Rebecca Pennell’s critical pretrial rulings, shaped by government requests to restrict trial discussions, will significantly influence courtroom arguments. While some restrictions were imposed, the defendants can still testify about their beliefs and intentions during the protest. This trial is expected to set an important precedent for protest rights and federal authority, drawing national attention to the balance between civil liberties and government power.