ICE Agents Surge in Minneapolis Sparks Fear and Protests

Federal immigration agents from ICE and other agencies have poured into Minneapolis over the past month, carrying out arrests and raids that have led to protests, shootings, and lawsuits. The operation, which started in December 2025, has put the city on edge, with residents reporting fear on the streets and local police stretched thin.

Background

The push began with Operation Metro Surge in late December 2025. Thousands of armed agents from the Department of Homeland Security, including ICE and Customs and Border Protection, arrived in the Twin Cities. Their job was to enforce immigration laws through stops, arrests, and deportations. By early January 2026, the number of agents reached about 2,000, with plans to add 1,000 more.

Residents in neighborhoods across Minneapolis and St. Paul started noticing the agents right away. They showed up in unmarked cars, wearing masks and tactical gear. Stops happened in everyday spots: parking lots, bus stops, and even near schools. People described seeing agents pull over drivers without clear reasons, check papers, and take some away in handcuffs.

Tensions built quickly. Protests formed almost daily, first small groups outside federal buildings, then larger crowds blocking streets. Clashes broke out when protesters got close to agents. Local police had to step in to keep order, pulling officers from regular duties.

The spark came on January 7, 2026, when an ICE agent shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good in her car in Minneapolis. The agent said it was self-defense, but family and leaders called it unjust. Days later, another shooting happened: an agent wounded a man in the leg during an enforcement action. These events poured fuel on the fire, drawing national attention.

Communities felt the impact hard. Schools locked down to protect kids. Businesses shut doors or saw sales drop by half or more because customers stayed home. In nearby western Wisconsin, where many commute to the Twin Cities, people watched news reports with worry. Families there started carrying IDs everywhere, even for short walks.

Key Details

Agents have made hundreds of arrests since the surge started. Targets include people without papers, but reports say U.S. citizens and legal residents got caught up too. One case involved a Liberian immigrant released by a judge on Thursday, January 15, only to get picked up again hours later. His lawyer plans to fight the re-arrest and any deportation.

Protests centered on the Whipple Building near Fort Snelling, a federal site. Crowds gathered there daily, chanting against the agents. On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security reported 12 arrests from those protests, saying demonstrators assaulted officers. Video showed an agent pulling his gun as people surrounded his vehicle.

Local police tracked the strain. Starting January 7, Minneapolis officers logged overtime for handling protest fallout and agent-related calls. By January 9, that hit over 3,000 hours. Costs topped $2 million for just a few days, covering everything from traffic jams left by abandoned detainee cars to 911 calls mistaking arrests for kidnappings.

Shootings and Clashes

The death of Renee Good drew the most outrage. She was sitting in her car when the agent fired. Protesters marched with her name on signs. The second shooting involved a man who approached an agent with a shovel and broom handle; the agent shot him in the leg.

Clashes spread. High school students faced pepper spray on school grounds. Parents saw agents grab people in front of kids. Agents entered sensitive spots like churches, clinics, and daycares, against long-standing rules.

Lawmakers held a field hearing on the operations. Democratic leaders like Rep. Betty McCollum and Rep. Ilhan Omar spoke out.

"What we are witnessing right now is unprecedented. There is no modern precedent for this level of federal overreach, violence, lawlessness carried out in the name of immigration enforcement." – Rep. Ilhan Omar

On the other side, some Republicans blamed state leaders for stirring unrest.

Legal Pushback

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, along with Minneapolis and St. Paul, filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security. They claim the agents' actions break federal rules and the Constitution. Points include racial profiling, excessive force, warrantless stops, and commandeering local police. The suit seeks to halt the operations.

Immigration lawyers report clients too scared to leave home. One attorney said the fear in immigrant neighborhoods is at record levels, with people seeing arrests on TV and assuming anyone could be next.

What This Means

The surge has changed daily life in Minneapolis. Immigrant families hunker down, avoiding stores or parks. Hmong community members, many U.S. citizens, carry passports just to walk dogs or drop kids at school. Businesses lose money as customers vanish. Police budgets strain under overtime, pulling resources from other crimes.

Protests show no sign of stopping. More are planned for Sunday, with support from groups across the country. President Trump threatened to use the Insurrection Act to send in troops if unrest grows. That law lets the president override local control in rebellions or invasions.

Western Wisconsin feels ripples. Commuters hesitate to cross into Minnesota. Organizers there provide rides and food to protesters, keeping things peaceful.

Local leaders say the operations go beyond immigration. They point to U.S. citizens detained over accents or skin color. Federal officials defend the actions as needed enforcement, blaming protesters for violence.

Police chiefs ride along with officers, watching tensions firsthand. Community patrols keep an eye on agent movements, alerting people to stay safe. The city balances free speech with public order, as federal and local forces rub against each other.

FBI stepped in too, arresting someone for vandalizing vehicles and offering rewards for info. All this plays out as winter drags on, with cold streets filled with uncertainty. Families wait to see if agents knock next, schools drill lockdowns, and leaders file papers in court. The standoff tests lines between federal power and local rights, with Minneapolis at the front.