Tensions Rise as Federal Agents Arrest Activists in Minneapolis

Wed Feb 04 2026 20:24:36 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a series of aggressive arrests, activists in Minneapolis were confronted by immigration officers with guns drawn as tensions surrounding immigration enforcement escalate following a recent high-profile departure.

In Minneapolis, immigration officers arrested several activists trailing their vehicles, illustrating rising tensions since the departure of a prominent commander. Witness reports indicate officers stopped vehicles at gunpoint, leading to concerns about civil rights. While the Department of Homeland Security has not commented, recent judicial rulings have limited the powers of immigration enforcement, sparking debates about their application.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Immigration officers with guns drawn arrested some activists trailing their vehicles in Minneapolis, highlighting escalating tensions following the recent departure of a high-profile commander.

At least one activist bearing an anti-ICE message was detained and handcuffed on the ground, according to eyewitness accounts. These tensions are intensified as federal agents have ramped up their immigration enforcement strategies, operating with a focus on targeted arrests in neighborhoods rather than parking lots.

Witnesses reported that a convoy of activists followed the officers after they reportedly began knocking on doors in south Minneapolis. Federal agents reportedly ordered activists out of their vehicles at gunpoint and instructed onlookers, including reporters, to retreat while threatening the use of pepper spray.

The surge in arrests follows significant community unrest surrounding immigration enforcement tactics and the recent controversial departure of Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino, who oversaw an aggressive immigration crackdown.

A recent federal ruling imposed restrictions on how immigration officers treat motorists who closely follow them; however, these limits have faced challenges in appeals court.

Additionally, a man charged with an alleged assault on U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar involving a vinegar attack is being held without bail, further underscoring the heightened national conversation about civil liberties amid ongoing protests against federal immigration policies.