Minnesota Businesses Shut Down As Thousands Protest ICE Crackdown

On Friday, January 23, 2026, the streets of Minneapolis were transformed into a sea of protest, as thousands of demonstrators braved bitterly cold temperatures—hovering around -23°C (-10°F)—to demand an end to the federal immigration crackdown sweeping through Minnesota. The day, dubbed the "Day of Truth and Freedom" by organizers, saw hundreds of businesses across the Twin Cities shutter their doors in solidarity, while rallies and marches drew crowds from across the state and beyond.

According to reporting by BBC and CBS News, the protests were sparked by "Operation Metro Surge," an intensive U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation that has gripped Minnesota for over six weeks. The federal government has maintained that the operation is focused on deporting individuals with criminal records who are in the country illegally. However, critics, including local officials, business owners, and educators, argue that the crackdown has resulted in the detention of migrants with no criminal record—and, in some cases, even U.S. citizens—raising fears, disrupting communities, and rocking the local economy.

The epicenter of Friday’s action was downtown Minneapolis, where thousands marched from outside U.S. Bank Stadium to the Target Center arena, chanting, playing music, and waving signs. The demonstration culminated in a rally inside the arena, where speakers called for an immediate end to ICE operations in the state. Organizers estimated the turnout could reach as high as 50,000 participants, though official numbers remained unconfirmed by Friday night.

Business owners, too, made their voices heard. Kim Bartmann, who owns six restaurants in Minneapolis, told BBC that she closed four of her establishments for the protest, despite the financial strain. "Everyone is in solidarity, but everyone needs to buy groceries and pay their rents," she said, noting that sales at her restaurants had already dropped more than 30% in the past three weeks due to the ongoing ICE operation. "We have a lot of employees who are US citizens or have paperwork to work in the US who are still terrified to leave their homes." Her experience was echoed by Corey Lamb, owner of Harriet Grove Botanicals, who said, "When those individuals are struggling because they're afraid of being detained or disappeared, it has an effect not only morally but economically on what's going on here, and also in the greater Midwest."

Yet, not every business chose to close completely. Some, like The Lotus restaurant in Minneapolis, kept their doors open to serve free food to the community. "This is not about money for us," owner Yoom Nguyen told CBS News. "We've been here since 1984. This community embraced our family when we were going through tough times, and (we) feel it's our turn to return that favor, bring some hope and some joy and some warmth to people." Pillar Forum Cafe and Commodities, a coffee shop in northeast Minneapolis, similarly became a hub for those opposing ICE, offering warmth and a gathering place for participants in the general strike.

The day’s events were not without tension. About 100 clergy members were arrested at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport while protesting and calling on airlines to refuse to transport detainees arrested by ICE. A spokesman for the airports commission told the Minnesota Reformer that the arrests were made after the protest "went beyond agreed upon terms" and to "protect public safety and airport access." Meanwhile, three activists—including former Twin Cities NAACP president Nekima Levy Armstrong—were arrested during a demonstration at a church where a local ICE field office leader serves as pastor, though they were released later that day.

Protests also reached the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, home to the region’s federal immigration court. The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office issued dispersal orders for what it called an "unlawful protest" after protesters blocked access roads and ice chunks were thrown at vehicles. Two people were detained and faced potential criminal charges, according to ICE.

The human toll of the crackdown was starkly illustrated by a series of high-profile detentions. Four students in Columbia Heights, aged five to seventeen, were detained by ICE officers earlier in the week. Two Hopkins students were also taken into custody on Thursday, January 22. Most notably, a two-year-old girl named Chloe was detained alongside her undocumented father as they returned from a grocery store in south Minneapolis. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the arrest, stating that Chloe was reunited with her father at a federal facility after her mother declined to take custody. An emergency injunction ordered Chloe’s release into the care of her lawyer, as she has a pending asylum application and is not subject to a final order of removal.

Another case that drew national attention involved five-year-old Liam Ramos, who was taken into ICE custody with his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Ramos. According to CBS News, both have active immigration court cases and cannot be legally deported until their cases are heard. The family, originally from Ecuador, entered the U.S. through a port of entry using the Customs and Border Protection app and is seeking asylum. Their lawyer, Mark Prokosch, emphasized that neither has a criminal record.

The crackdown’s impact on children has been especially pronounced in Minnesota’s schools. Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed, superintendent of Hopkins Public Schools, reported that students were detained off school property, while teachers described rising fear in classrooms. Natasha Dockter of the Minneapolis Federation of Educators declared, "Immigration enforcement should never, under any circumstances, be on school grounds." Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, attended the rally at Target Center, saying, "Children are terrified. Families are afraid to send kids to schools. This is not about immigration but intimidation."

Tensions were further inflamed by the killing of 37-year-old Minneapolis woman Renee Good earlier in January. An independent autopsy found she was shot three times by an ICE officer—in the forearm, breast, and head—with the Hennepin County Medical Examiner ruling her death a homicide. Antonio Romanucci, lead attorney for Good’s family, stated, "We believe the evidence we are gathering and will continue to gather in our investigation will suffice to prove our case." The shooting prompted resignations from at least one FBI agent and several federal prosecutors, who cited pressure to reclassify or discontinue the investigation.

Political leaders weighed in from all sides. Vice President JD Vance called for greater cooperation between local law enforcement and federal agents, criticizing sanctuary policies that limit such collaboration. "If this was about safety, then there would be a whole lot of opportunity to partner and do it. But this is not about safety. It's not even about immigration. What we are seeing right now is that this is political retribution. It's about causing chaos on our streets," Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey told CNN, pushing back against federal criticism. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty reminded the public that ICE agents are not immune to Minnesota law, saying, "State and local law enforcement still have jurisdiction to conduct investigations into potential criminal offenses by any federal agent, just as they would any other person who breaks Minnesota criminal law."

As the protests continued into the evening, demonstrators remained undeterred by the cold or the threat of arrest. One protester, Raya, summed up the mood: "I'm here because I'm more angry than I am afraid." For many in Minnesota, Friday’s events marked a defining moment—a stand not just against federal immigration policy, but for the rights, dignity, and safety of their communities.