Twelve individuals were taken into custody during protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities in Minneapolis, the largest city in Minnesota, as per the US Department of Homeland Security. Demonstrations persisted with a group assembling outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building. President Donald Trump, on Truth Social, continued his criticism of the Democratic leadership in Minnesota, stating they had lost control and that he would act swiftly and effectively if necessary. Trump had earlier mentioned the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act in the state to address ongoing issues.
The protests stemmed from recent incidents involving ICE agents in Minnesota. Following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent on January 7, protests erupted nationwide. While the Trump administration claimed Good was attempting to hit law enforcement officers with her vehicle, local authorities disputed this account, suggesting the agent’s actions were reckless. Another ICE-related shooting occurred when an agent shot a Venezuelan national in the leg after being attacked during an arrest operation. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey expressed concerns over the sustainability of the situation in the city amidst escalating protests.
The US Department of Homeland Security disclosed that over 2,500 arrests have been made by ICE agents in Minnesota in the past five weeks. Additionally, approximately 3,000 federal officers have been deployed to the state recently to address the situation.
