Minnesota Businesses Unite in Historic Protest Against ICE

Thu Jan 29 2026 20:09:40 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a remarkable display of solidarity, hundreds of Minnesota businesses closed their doors to protest against the ongoing presence of ICE, drawing thousands of demonstrators to the streets in freezing temperatures.

Minnesota witnessed a powerful protest on Friday as hundreds of local businesses closed, joining thousands of protesters to showcase opposition to the ongoing immigration crackdown in the state by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement). The demonstrations emerged after a call for solidarity, urging residents to skip work and school, highlighting concerns over the impact of ICE operations on immigrant communities and local economies. Protestors faced frigid temperatures as they voiced their demands for an end to harsh immigration policies.

Hundreds of businesses in Minnesota closed on Friday and thousands of protesters turned out in severely cold weather to demonstrate against the ongoing immigration crackdown in the state.

The widespread rallies come after organizers encouraged residents to skip work or school and refrain from shopping in a show of opposition to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The ICE operation ordered by the Trump administration in Minnesota has been going on for more than six weeks. The administration has characterized it as a public safety operation aimed at deporting criminals illegally in the country. Critics warn migrants with no criminal record and U.S. citizens are being detained too.

On Friday, about 100 clergy members were arrested at the Minneapolis airport while holding a protest calling on U.S. airlines to refuse to transport detainees arrested by ICE.

A spokesman for the airports commission told the Minnesota Reformer that the arrests took place after the permitted activity went beyond agreed upon terms and was done to protect public safety and airport access.

Thousands of federal officers have been deployed to Minnesota as part of Operation Metro Surge. The killing of 37-year-old Minneapolis woman Renee Good earlier this month flared tensions across the state and brought condemnation from local officials.

We want ICE out of Minnesota, and we want ICE out of every state, with their extreme overreach, said Bishop Dwayne Royster, whose organization Faith in Action supports local partners in Minneapolis during the strike.

Friday's marches are thought to be the largest display of opposition to date to the current immigration policy in the state, as thousands walked downtown through temperatures of -23C (-10F).

As they made their way to the city's NBA arena to hold an anti-ICE rally at the home court of the Minnesota Timberwolves, protesters chanted and played music.

Business owner Corey Lamb closed his establishment, Harriet Grove Botanicals, to protest against ICE’s presence and was outraged by Good's death, emphasizing the economic impact of ICE operations on local businesses.

The presence of ICE agents has incited outrage among Minnesota's residents, prompting protests against ICE operations that disrupt the community.

In a speech on Thursday, Vice-President JD Vance called for local Minnesota law enforcement to coordinate with federal officers to carry out immigration enforcement.

The Trump administration has criticized Minnesota's "sanctuary" policies that limit local government's cooperation with ICE, adding further tension to the situation.