Tensions Rise in Minneapolis as Immigration Enforcement Tactics Shift

Immigration officers with guns drawn arrested activists who were following their vehicles Tuesday in Minneapolis, signaling continued tension despite leadership changes in the federal immigration crackdown that has gripped the city.

The arrests came as education leaders described mounting anxiety in Minnesota schools, with some families too frightened to send their children to class amid ongoing federal immigration operations.

“There’s less smoke on the ground,” Governor Tim Walz said, referring to tear gas and other irritants previously used against protesters, “but I think it’s more chilling than it was last week because of the shift to the schools, the shift to the children.”

The confrontation occurred when activists trailed federal agents through south Minneapolis after reports of officers knocking on homes. An Associated Press photographer witnessed agents stopping their vehicles and ordering activists out of a car at gunpoint. At least one person wearing anti-ICE messaging was handcuffed while face-down on the ground, as officers threatened reporters with pepper spray if they didn’t maintain their distance.

Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin defended the arrests, stating that agents detained the activists because they hindered efforts to arrest a person allegedly in the country illegally.

The incident highlights the evolving tactics of federal immigration agents in the Minneapolis area. While a federal judge recently placed limits on how officers treat people who follow them without obstructing operations, an appeals court has since set that order aside.

Leadership Changes Follow Fatal Shooting

The tension follows significant leadership shifts in the federal operation. Greg Bovino, who had been leading immigration enforcement in Minneapolis and other major U.S. cities, departed last week shortly after the death of protester Alex Pretti. This marked the second killing of a U.S. citizen during immigration operations in January alone.

Tom Homan, the Trump administration’s border czar, has since taken command of the operation, warning that protesters could face consequences if they interfere with officers.

Schools Report Growing Fear

At a news conference, education leaders detailed the impact on local schools with immigrant populations. Brenda Lewis, superintendent of Fridley Public Schools in suburban Minneapolis, reported being followed twice by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents since speaking publicly on January 27. She said school board members have had ICE vehicles stationed outside their homes.

“Students are afraid to come to school, parents are afraid to drop them off,” Lewis said. “Staff are coming to work wondering if today will be the day something happens in one of our buildings.”

Lewis, a U.S. citizen, described seeing SUVs with tinted windows, multiple masked occupants, and out-of-state license plates in her community. Her district, which serves Somali and Ecuadorian families, has implemented enhanced security measures, adjusted drop-off procedures, and increased mental health support for students.

Tracy Xiong, a social worker in the Columbia Heights district, reported coordinating grocery deliveries to families and arranging volunteer drivers to transport children safely.

The Department of Homeland Security and ICE did not immediately respond to requests for comment about educators’ concerns.

Federal Grand Jury Seeks Records

Meanwhile, Tuesday marked the deadline for Minneapolis to comply with a federal grand jury subpoena for information related to any efforts to impede the Trump administration’s immigration operations.

“We have done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide, but when the federal government weaponizes the criminal justice system against political opponents, it’s important to stand up and fight back,” said Ally Peters, spokesperson for Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey.

While Peters confirmed the city was complying with the request, she did not provide specific details. Sources familiar with the matter have told the Associated Press that the subpoenas are connected to an investigation into whether Minnesota officials obstructed enforcement through public statements. Other state and local offices run by Democrats also received subpoenas, though it remains unclear if they shared the same deadline.

Legal Developments in Related Cases

In related developments, a federal judge denied release for Anthony Kazmierczak, who is charged with squirting apple cider vinegar on Democratic U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar.

“We simply cannot have protesters and people — whatever side of the aisle they’re on — running up to representatives who are conducting official business, and holding town halls, and assaulting them,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar argued during Tuesday’s hearing.

Defense attorney John Fossum had contended that the vinegar posed minimal risk to Omar and that Kazmierczak’s health problems weren’t being properly addressed in detention.

In another case, two Venezuelan men accused of assaulting an ICE officer experienced a legal roller coaster. U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson rejected the government’s appeal of a magistrate judge’s order to release Alfredo Aljorna and Julio Sosa-Celis on criminal charges. However, ICE quickly retook both men into custody after the ruling.

Sosa-Celis was shot in the thigh by an officer during a January 14 encounter that sparked protests. While the officer claimed he was struck with a broom and snow shovel during an arrest attempt following a car crash, both men deny the allegations. Neither video evidence nor eyewitness testimony has supported the officer’s account.

As federal operations continue in Minneapolis, the shifting tactics and heightened tensions suggest that despite leadership changes, the immigration enforcement surge remains a deeply divisive and volatile situation for the city.