Hundreds of businesses across Minnesota shuttered their doors Friday, and thousands braved frigid temperatures to participate in an economic protest against increased immigration enforcement in the state.
The widespread demonstrations followed calls from organizers for residents to abstain from work and shopping as a display of opposition to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions.
The ICE operations, initiated by the Trump administration, have been ongoing for over six weeks. The administration has characterized the effort as a public safety initiative focused on deporting individuals illegally in the country. However, critics contend that both undocumented migrants and U.S. citizens are being detained.
Protests Escalate as Minnesota Businesses Feel Economic Impact
Thousands protested Friday, impacting businesses and raising questions about the economic consequences of increased immigration enforcement in Minnesota.
- Approximately 100 clergy members were arrested Friday at the Minneapolis airport during a protest against ICE.
- Businesses across Minnesota, including restaurants and retail stores, closed in solidarity with the protest.
- The ICE operation, dubbed “Operation Metro Surge,” has sparked widespread concern and opposition.
- The death of Renee Good earlier this month fueled tensions and contributed to the protests.
What is driving the protests in Minnesota? Increased ICE enforcement, coupled with concerns over the detention of both documented and undocumented individuals, has ignited widespread opposition and economic disruption.
On Friday, roughly 100 clergy members were arrested at the Minneapolis airport while protesting and urging U.S. airlines to refuse transportation of individuals detained by ICE. An airport commission spokesperson stated the arrests occurred after the “permitted activity went beyond agreed upon terms,” citing the need to ensure public safety and airport access.
Thousands of federal officers have been deployed to Minnesota as part of “Operation Metro Surge.”
The death of 37-year-old Minneapolis resident Renee Good earlier this month intensified tensions throughout the state and drew 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 is supporting local partners in Minneapolis during the strike. “We want Congress to stand up and provide oversight to ICE.”
Friday’s marches are considered the largest demonstration to date against the current immigration policy in the state, with thousands walking through downtown areas despite temperatures reaching -10F (-23C). Protesters marched toward the city’s NBA arena, holding a rally on the home court of the Minnesota Timberwolves, chanting and playing music.
Corey Lamb, a Minneapolis resident, closed his business, Harriet Grove Botanicals, Friday morning in solidarity and joined the protests. He expressed opposition to the presence of ICE agents in his city and voiced outrage over Good’s death in early January. Lamb also viewed the immigration raids as a potential economic threat to his business and others in the community.
“We have a lot of friends that we rely on, we have a lot of businesses that we rely on, in order to make our business work,” Lamb 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.”
Hundreds of other businesses, including restaurants, tattoo parlors, and toy stores, joined Lamb’s business in the demonstration.
Kim Bartmann, owner of six restaurants in Minneapolis, including four that remain open during the winter, also closed her establishments Friday in support of the cause. While supportive, she acknowledged the financial challenges of participating.
“Everyone is in solidarity, but everyone needs to buy groceries and pay their rents,” she said, noting that staff at one location initially requested to remain open before deciding the potential backlash of not participating was too great. “Economically, it is a severe blow to my business.”
Bartmann reported that sales at her restaurants, including Barbette and Gigi’s Café, have decreased by more than 30% over the past three weeks due to the ICE operation, prompting her to reduce operating hours as both customers and staff stay home. “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,” she said.
ICE’s presence has sparked outrage among many Minnesota residents, who have protested against the operations and the presence of other federal officers in their city. This week, school officials in Columbia Heights announced that four students, ranging in age from five to 17, had been detained by ICE. A two-year-old child was also detained Thursday while driving home from a grocery store with her undocumented father in south Minneapolis.
In a speech Thursday, Vice-President JD Vance called for local Minnesota law enforcement to coordinate with federal officers to carry out immigration enforcement. Minnesota, and some of its cities, have “sanctuary” policies that limit cooperation between local government and law enforcement and ICE. The Trump administration has criticized these policies as a threat to public safety.
Meanwhile, a Minneapolis FBI agent resigned this week over concerns about the bureau’s handling of the investigation into Good’s shooting. Tracee Mergen left “in part due to the pressure on her to reclassify/discontinue the investigation” over Good’s death. Earlier this month, U.S. media reported that at least six prosecutors in the Minneapolis U.S. Attorney’s office also resigned over the administration’s handling of the federal investigation.
