In a dramatic display of civil disobedience, protesters in Minnesota have clashed with federal immigration enforcement agents, leading to the deployment of what appeared to be gas to disperse the crowds. The protests, dubbed “ICE out of Minnesota: Day of Truth and Freedom,” have seen demonstrators block roads, throw chunks of ice, and participate in an “economic blackout” by refusing to shop, go to school, or dine out.
The unrest was sparked by the recent detention of a 5-year-old boy by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, an incident that has reignited nationwide anger over the agency’s tactics. School officials have accused the officers of using the child as “bait” to try and get other family members to open the door. However, ICE has defended its actions, claiming the boy was “abandoned” by his parents and was well cared for by the agents.
Vice President JD Vance has weighed in on the situation, blaming the chaos on a lack of cooperation from local and state officials with federal immigration enforcement. Vance’s comments have further inflamed tensions, with protesters and community groups like Indivisible Twin Cities insisting that ICE must leave Minnesota altogether.
“We really, really want ICE to leave Minnesota, and they’re not going to leave Minnesota unless there’s a ton of pressure on them,” said Kate Havelin of Indivisible Twin Cities.
The protests have seen hundreds of businesses in the Twin Cities area close as part of the “economic blackout,” with some remaining open establishments giving away goods and services for free in solidarity. Businesses that cannot close are participating in other ways, such as the coffee shop Misfit, which is offering free coffee, pastries, and shots of espresso.
The clash between protesters and federal agents has also highlighted the ongoing debate over the Fourth Amendment and whether ICE is violating it by entering homes without warrants. Legal experts have asserted that the Constitution requires a warrant signed off by a judicial officer before a home can be invaded.
As the tensions in Minnesota continue to escalate, the future of ICE’s presence in the state remains uncertain. With protesters showing no signs of backing down and businesses joining the fight, the standoff looks set to intensify in the coming days.
