An “ICE Out!” day of protest mobilised hundreds of demonstrators, who braved freezing temperatures to make their voices heard.
Businesses across Minnesota shut their doors on Friday as workers walked off the job and joined mass demonstrations against the Trump administration’s decision to deploy a heavy federal immigration enforcement presence in Minneapolis—an action labour unions and faith groups described as a de facto general strike.
The coordinated action, branded by organisers as an “ICE Out!” day of protest, drew hundreds of demonstrators into the streets, undeterred by freezing temperatures.
In Minneapolis, large crowds gathered near Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport to denounce the transfer of detained migrants onto outbound flights and to demand accountability over the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a U.S. citizen, by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent earlier this month.
Near Terminal 1, clergy members knelt on a roadway in prayer as demonstrators chanted anti-ICE slogans, according to Reuters. Police from multiple local departments ordered the crowd to disperse before arresting dozens of protesters who refused to comply. Organisers said about 100 clergy members were taken into custody, zip-tied, and transported away by bus without incident.
Across the state, bars, restaurants, and retail shops remained closed in solidarity with the protests, organisers said.
In Minneapolis, workers and activists planned a major afternoon march, described as the most visible show of resistance yet to the federal immigration surge—an operation city leaders, including Mayor Jacob Frey, have criticised as excessive and destabilising.
Miguel Hernandez, owner of Lito’s Bakery, said he closed his business for the day to join the demonstrations despite harsh weather conditions.
“This is about standing with people who are hurting,” Hernandez said. “And it’s about telling our elected officials that words alone are not enough.”
President Donald Trump ordered the intensified enforcement following allegations of fraud involving some members of Minnesota’s Somali community. He has repeatedly used inflammatory rhetoric about Somali immigrants and pledged to accelerate deportations, including of asylum seekers and other lawful residents, as part of a broader immigration crackdown.
The operation has triggered sustained unrest in Minneapolis, with residents staging daily protests—often late into the night—using whistles, drums, and other instruments. At times, confrontations have escalated, with federal agents deploying crowd-control measures, while protesters accuse authorities of intimidation.
The administration has said its agents have faced harassment and obstruction while performing their duties. Senior officials travelled to Minneapolis this week to defend the operation, with Vice President JD Vance saying on Thursday that the White House was “doing everything we can to lower the temperature.”
Among those planning to march was nonprofit worker Patty O’Keefe, who said frustration with federal actions has reached a tipping point.
“It feels like we’re being pushed to do more because the usual forms of protest haven’t been enough to break through,” she said.
Meanwhile, major corporations headquartered in Minnesota have largely remained silent. Several Fortune 500 companies based in the Minneapolis area have not issued public statements on the raids.
Minneapolis-based Target has faced renewed criticism for declining to comment or clarify what guidance it has given employees should ICE officers appear at its stores. Requests for comment from other Minnesota-based companies—including UnitedHealth, Medtronic, Best Buy, General Mills, and 3M—did not receive immediate responses.