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Minnesota businesses shut down as thousands brave freezing cold to protest ICE crackdown

Tshepiso Mofokeng — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 06:25:07 +0000

Hundreds of businesses across Minnesota closed their doors on Friday as thousands of people poured into the streets, braving bitter cold temperatures to protest ongoing immigration enforcement operations in the state.

The action was part of a coordinated economic protest, with organisers urging residents to skip work and school and avoid shopping for the day. The goal was to send a clear message of opposition to the continued presence of immigration officers and the impact their operations are having on local communities.

Immigration raids in Minnesota have been underway for more than six weeks. While federal authorities describe the operation as a public safety effort focused on removing criminals, critics say many of those affected have no criminal records, and some US citizens have also been caught up in the sweeps.

Tensions escalated further on Friday when around 100 faith leaders were arrested at Minneapolis–St Paul International Airport during a demonstration urging airlines not to transport immigration detainees. Officials said the arrests occurred after the protest went beyond agreed limits and disrupted airport access.

Thousands of federal officers have been deployed across the state as part of a major enforcement surge, adding to fears and uncertainty in immigrant communities. Anger has also been fueled by the recent killing of 37-year-old Minneapolis resident Renee Good, an incident that has drawn widespread condemnation and intensified calls for accountability.

Community leaders say the protests are about more than immigration policy. “We want ICE out of Minnesota and out of every state,” said one faith leader involved in the demonstrations, calling on lawmakers to step in and increase oversight.

Friday’s marches were among the largest yet, with crowds filling downtown Minneapolis despite temperatures dropping to minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Protesters chanted, played music, and eventually gathered near the city’s NBA arena for a large rally.

Many business owners chose to close in solidarity. Corey Lamb, who owns a small botanical shop in Minneapolis, said fear caused by the raids has disrupted both daily life and local commerce. He explained that when workers and customers are afraid to leave their homes, the effects ripple through the entire economy.

Restaurants, cafés, tattoo studios, and retail stores joined the shutdown. For some owners, the decision was painful. One restaurateur who closed several locations said revenues have already fallen sharply in recent weeks, but staying open risked public backlash and employee concerns.

School districts have also been affected. Officials in one suburb reported that several students, some as young as five, were detained in recent days. In another case, a toddler was reportedly detained alongside her undocumented father during a routine trip home.

The protests come amid growing political pressure, with federal leaders calling on local law enforcement to cooperate more closely with immigration authorities. Minnesota’s sanctuary-style policies, which limit such cooperation, have drawn sharp criticism from the federal government.

Meanwhile, internal dissent has surfaced within federal agencies. A senior investigator recently resigned over concerns related to the handling of the Renee Good case, and multiple prosecutors have also stepped down in recent weeks.

For many Minnesotans, Friday’s shutdown and protests were a way to show solidarity, express outrage, and demand change — even as the economic and emotional costs continue to mount.

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Justice Department Probes Minnesota Leaders Over Claims They Tried to Block ICE Operations

Tshepiso Mofokeng — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 06:12:10 +0000

Tensions are boiling over in Minneapolis as the U.S. Justice Department launches an investigation into two top Minnesota Democrats Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey accused of trying to interfere with federal immigration enforcement by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

Here are scenes from the ongoing protests in the city, where crowds have gathered to demonstrate against ICE actions:

The probe stems from public statements the two made criticizing ICE, amid a wave of federal immigration raids that have sparked massive unrest. Protests intensified after last week’s fatal shooting of 37-year-old local woman Renee Good by an ICE agent.

This is how federal agents, including Customs and Border Patrol, have appeared during the demonstrations:

New details about the incident show Good was found with multiple gunshot wounds, including to the chest, arm, and possibly the head, according to paramedic reports. Video footage captured the moment: ICE agents approached her SUV, which was blocking traffic. As she appeared to try driving away, an agent fired.

The Trump administration claims Good was trying to run over the agent and obstruct operations. Local leaders say she was acting as a legal observer alerting neighbors, and posed no real threat. The FBI is looking into the shooting, but there’s no civil rights probe into the agent involved, and local authorities say they’ve been kept out of the loop.

Governor Walz fired back on social media, calling the investigation an “authoritarian tactic” and pointing out that the agent who fired hasn’t faced scrutiny. Mayor Frey said he won’t be intimidated, describing it as an effort to silence him for defending the city against what he sees as dangerous federal overreach.

A federal judge recently stepped in with an order limiting what thousands of deployed federal officers can do: no pepper spray on peaceful protesters, no arrests without clear suspicion of interference, and even following agents in a car isn’t enough reason for a stop by itself.

Here are Minnesota’s leaders responding to the crisis. Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey:

The investigation reportedly focuses on a federal law against conspiring to obstruct officers through force, intimidation, or threats. President Trump has slammed the protesters as “highly paid professionals” and accused local leaders of losing control, though he said he won’t invoke the Insurrection Act to send in troops for now.

Democratic lawmakers, including Reps. Ilhan Omar and Pramila Jayapal, held a hearing in Minnesota to condemn the operations, calling ICE’s tactics reckless and demanding reforms like body cameras, no masks, and warrants for arrests.

Thousands of ICE officers remain in the state, and the standoff continues to highlight deep divisions over immigration enforcement in America.

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🔴 LIVE NOW: Donald Trump Speaks at House GOP Retreat

MDNtv — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 16:48:45 +0000

President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the House GOP Member Retreat in Washington on January 6, 2026, outlining priorities for the year ahead and the push toward the 2026 midterms. Trump also addresses the death of Rep. Doug LaMalfa and shares an update on Rep. Jim Baird and his wife following a car accident.

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