Feds Arrest Activists in Minneapolis Amid Rising Tensions

Wed Feb 04 2026 03:13:19 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Immigration officers draw guns and make arrests as activists follow their vehicles in Minneapolis following a high-profile ICE incident.

Immigration officers aggressively arrested several activists in Minneapolis on Tuesday, raising tensions in the community following the recent departure of a prominent border patrol commander. Activists, who were trailing ICE vehicles, reported being targeted and threatened with pepper spray during the arrests. This incident comes after a judge's order aimed at protecting peaceful observers was put aside by an appeals court.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Immigration officers with guns drawn arrested some activists who were trailing their vehicles on Tuesday in Minneapolis, illustrating the heightened tensions since the recent departure of a high-profile border patrol commander.

At least one activist, visibly wearing anti-ICE apparel, was handcuffed while facedown on the ground, as witnessed by an Associated Press photographer.

Federal agents have notably increased targeted immigration arrests in neighborhoods compared to prior tactics in parking lots. This has made it more challenging for activists to acquire timely information on potential immigration-related detainments, leading to a shift in their focus from overseeing operations to rapidly relaying sighting alerts.

According to reports, multiple vehicles trailed ICE agents through south Minneapolis after word spread of their activities at residential homes. In response, officers abruptly halted the activist vehicles and ordered individuals out at gunpoint, with agents warning reporters at the scene to maintain their distance while threatening the use of pepper spray.

A federal judge had recently attempted to limit how officers treat motorists who follow them without obstructing their actions. The ruling stated that simply following agents at a reasonable distance could not justify a vehicle stop. However, an appeals court overturned this order.

Witness accounts indicated that there was no immediate response to inquiries directed at the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding the incidents on Tuesday.

This escalation follows the resignation of a commander previously leading immigration operations in Minneapolis, amid scrutiny following the fatal shooting of a local U.S. citizen. Additionally, former Trump administration border czar Tom Homan has been dispatched to Minnesota, issuing warnings to protesters about possible repercussions for interfering with ICE operations.

Raza reported from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. AP reporter Ed White contributed from Detroit.