MINNEAPOLIS — On Tuesday, a significant number of protesters gathered in the vibrant Latino community of Minneapolis following a large-scale law enforcement operation involving both federal and local officers clad in tactical gear.
The demonstrators congregated near a Mexican restaurant and nearby Latino-owned businesses after witnessing live broadcasts suggesting an immigration raid was taking place. This comes in a city known for its stance as a sanctuary for migrants. However, officials clarified the operation involved a criminal investigation unrelated to immigration.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey posted on social media, noting, “While we are still gathering details, this incident was related to a criminal search warrant for drugs and money laundering and was not related to immigration enforcement.” He also confirmed that no arrests had been made.
Despite these assurances, approximately several dozen protesters remained in the area, where federal agents had previously been active, using vehicles to block traffic. Some protesters held signs, expressing messages like “abolish ICE” and “stop the deportations.”
Tensions rose when a driver attempted to navigate through the crowd, seemingly knocking one individual to the ground, although they quickly got up and reassured they were unharmed. Protesters deflated the driver’s tires, prompting police intervention, which resulted in at least one person being taken into custody after a brief confrontation.
Videos taken by bystanders showed law enforcement officers sporting both local agency insignias and those from federal entities such as the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations. An armored vehicle present at the scene was also marked with Homeland Security Investigations’ initials. The Minneapolis police chief was spotted at the location as well.
Michelle Gross, leader of the local organization Communities United Against Police Brutality, criticized the operation, arguing that its intent seemed to be intimidation. “This is jackbooted thuggery, and we aren’t having it in our city,” Gross declared.
Jennifer Davila, an observer working within the community, remarked on the mounting anxiety due to previous raids. “They had a white van, a black van, and a tank. For a raid, that’s pretty excessive,” said Davila, highlighting the impact on a diverse community of immigrants beyond just Latinos.
Even though Mayor Frey stated no arrests occurred, some protesters were detained temporarily as hostility between the crowd and authorities intensified. A photographer from Minnesota Public Radio was also affected, being pepper-sprayed, and his camera damaged.
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office mentioned in a social media update that their collaboration with federal agencies was part of a broader criminal inquiry, which involved executing multiple search warrants across the metro area.
Frey reiterated that Minneapolis law enforcement’s involvement was strictly limited to managing the crowd and reinforced that the department played no part in immigration enforcement activities. Both local police and sheriff’s offices adhere to policies that oppose cooperating with immigration enforcement.
The sheriff’s office emphasized their regular collaboration with federal partners during criminal investigations. However, further information about the operation remains limited, with an FBI spokesperson, Diana Freedman, opting not to divulge details in a text message.