Minnesota Workers Escalate Pressure on Corporations Over ICE Operations
Workers across Minnesota are intensifying their demands for major corporations to publicly oppose Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations within the state. This movement follows two significant incidents that have galvanised labour unions and community activists.
Recent Tragedies Fuel Growing Outrage
The death of Renee Good, an unarmed woman killed by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis earlier this month, initially sparked widespread concern. This was followed by the killing of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old Veterans Affairs Hospital ICU nurse and member of the American Federation of Government Employees. These events have amplified calls from organised labour for immediate action.
"ICE continues to make everyone less safe, and Minnesota's Labor Movement repeats and amplifies our call for them to leave our state immediately," declared Bernie Burnham, President of the Minnesota AFL-CIO. "We stand shoulder to shoulder with our fellow Minnesotans in the face of a hostile federal government."
Economic Blackout and Corporate Targeting
In response to these developments, labour unions, community leaders, and faith groups organised a Day of Truth & Freedom. This initiative called for a complete economic blackout, with participants abstaining from work, shopping, and school attendance.
Organisers have specifically targeted large corporations, demanding they take concrete stands against ICE operations. This includes ceasing all economic activity with the agency and banning ICE agents from entering workplace premises. Major companies facing this pressure include:
- Target
- Home Depot
- Enterprise
- Delta Airlines
- Hilton
Hundreds of Target employees have signed a letter addressed to the company's CEO and leadership team, criticising what they perceive as corporate silence on the ICE operations in Minnesota. None of the targeted companies have responded to multiple requests for comment regarding these developments.
Activist Criticism and Corporate Response
Sheletta Brundidge, a Minneapolis-based activist and former Target employee, expressed particular disappointment with her former employer. "It's so sad to see Target so silent," she stated. Brundidge, who initiated a boycott with activist Nekima Levy Armstrong, questioned whether Target's leadership had engaged with affected communities or visited the site where Renee Good was killed.
"Silence doesn't mean I don't know what to say. Silence says I don't give a damn," Brundidge added, emphasising her belief that corporate inaction speaks volumes about company priorities.
Despite this public criticism, Target executives reportedly met with Minneapolis clergy members who protested in the company's lobby last week. According to reports, the company has begun distributing updated internal guidelines regarding how staff should respond to unannounced immigration-related contacts.
Hospitality Industry Scrutiny and Construction Sector Impact
The hospitality industry has faced particular scrutiny during these events. Hilton removed a Hampton Inn from its network earlier this month after the hotel cancelled reservations for ICE agents. More recently, Hilton supported decisions to close a DoubleTree and an Intercontinental hotel in the Twin Cities region where ICE agents were staying, following reported bomb threats.
"A safety and security issue is a different issue—it's closed to all," explained Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta regarding the hotel closures.
The construction sector has experienced significant disruption from ICE operations. One construction worker, who requested anonymity due to immigration status concerns, described the situation: "Me and my coworkers haven't been working for a month now. ICE agents are going to construction sites, they're circling around, apprehending people, assaulting people without a warrant."
This worker, a member of Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en La Lucha (CTUL), explained that his church has been providing food and helping cover rent for affected workers as construction projects have halted.
Government Response and Economic Implications
A spokesperson for the US Department of Homeland Security described the actions of labour unions and workers as "beyond insane." The spokesperson questioned why labour leaders would not want what they characterised as public safety threats removed from communities, citing photographs of claimed undocumented immigrants arrested in Minnesota with criminal records.
However, under the Trump administration, thousands of people targeted by ICE have had no criminal record, and numerous US citizens have also been detained. In 2025, Donald Trump issued more than 1,600 pardons for individuals convicted of crimes, including US Capitol insurrectionists and wealthy campaign donors.
A recent report by North Star Policy Action estimates that the immigration enforcement operation is costing taxpayers at least $18 million per week. This contrasts sharply with the economic contribution of immigrant workers and business owners, who generate approximately $41 billion annually in economic output for Minnesota.
As tensions continue, Minnesota workers and activists show no signs of reducing pressure on corporations to take definitive stands against ICE operations within the state.
