USAO-Kansas: Threats or interference with federal agents is a felony offense

KANSAS CITY, KAN. - U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriesghauser of the District of Kansas is concerned about incidents of persons threatening federal agents and/or persons using their vehicles to aggressively chase or interfere with federal agents engaged in their official duties. As a result, USAO-KS is spreading public awareness on the difference between legal protest and criminal behavior.

U.S. Attorney Kriegshauser issued the following statement:

"The U.S. Attorney's Office - District of Kansas strongly supports and seeks to protect freedom of speech and the right to peacefully protest. We also believe it is imperative that protests be carried out in a responsible and legal manner to reduce the chance of injury to either law enforcement or to the public. Interfering with federal agents who are carrying out their duties can be charged by our office, depending on the conduct. Making threats against federal officials can be charged by our office, depending on the conduct. Individuals engaged in these activities should be aware that they are subject to prosecution in federal court. Recently, in the District of Kansas we have charged these types of crimes as federal felonies.

We at the U.S. Attorney's Office- District of Kansas are actively following reports on interactions between federal agents and the general public in our state. Our commitment is to review allegations with an impartial lens that scrutinizes the actions of everyone involved, law enforcement and the public, to determine if those actions are in accordance with the law.

We are aware that on February 14, 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were in Olathe conducting a targeted search for an identified individual. During that time, ICE agents had an encounter with two other local residents who were involved in tracking and following ICE agents while using their vehicle in an exceedingly aggressive manner. The license plate of the vehicle was determined to be associated with a previously deported individual for whom a Warrant for the Arrest of an Alien was issued, and the vehicle was stopped. The 19-year-old driver of the vehicle was ultimately determined to be a United States citizen. After reviewing the arrest for interference, we determined that the individual involved admitted to following federal agents in his vehicle while screaming at them, and he admitted to driving recklessly to where he almost struck the agent with his vehicle. Our office has decided not to pursue charges at this time given the specific circumstances. However, that decision may change if additional information is obtained.

This is just one instance of an increasing number of reports we have seen lately of the public following agents while using their vehicles in an aggressive manner. Increasingly, some of those following agents in potential reckless or criminal manner are young people, an age group that is generally more impressionable and more likely than older adults to act rashly when swept up with emotions. We encourage parents to have discussions with their children about what forms of conduct are appropriate as they exercise their constitutional right to freedom of speech so that they do not commit federal crimes. Federal agents enforcing immigration law can arrest United States citizens who commit federal offenses in their presence such as threats or interference inhibiting their duties.

Again, we support the right to peacefully protest. However, we will not allow illegal conduct that endangers the safety of law enforcement and other members of the public."

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