In a striking display of public defiance, residents in several US cities have used snowballs to protest against aggressive immigration raids conducted by federal agents. Videos from Minnesota and Illinois show people throwing snow at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers as they attempted to detain individuals, leading to escalated confrontations and legal repercussions.
Confrontations in the Snow
The incidents occurred as ICE has intensified its enforcement actions across the United States. In Minneapolis on Monday, agents attempted to arrest a woman, holding her in a snowbank. Video footage posted by Minnesota Public Radio shows an agent dragging the partially handcuffed woman along a snowy street while bystanders shouted for her release.
According to witnesses, the agents were aggressive from the outset. One woman told the Associated Press that snowballs were only thrown after agents began dragging the woman by her wrist. During the altercation, an agent was seen holding a taser and pointing a weapon at the crowd, while another repeatedly used an orange spray canister on protesters.
Official Responses and Legal Action
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara publicly criticised the ICE agents' tactics. His officers were called to the scene under the pretence that agents were under attack, but they determined the situation was safe and disengaged. O'Hara highlighted that his force's intensive de-escalation training was "often not what we are seeing from other agencies".
A similar scene unfolded in Elgin, Illinois, where protesters threw snow at agents during a man's detention, leading to responses with teargas and pepper munitions. These events have galvanised community rapid-response networks aimed at preventing immigrant arrests.
In a significant legal move, the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota has sued the Department of Homeland Security this week, alleging federal agents violated the rights of observers and protesters.
Potential Criminal Charges and Warnings
The Department of Homeland Security responded to the snowball incidents by stating, "ICE stays frosty … but rioters should be aware, assaulting an officer is a federal crime." Reporting by CBS indicates that US citizens have been arrested in relation to the Minneapolis incident, with DHS claiming injuries including cuts were sustained.
Minneapolis criminal defence attorney Joe Tamburino explained that throwing snowballs can constitute assault if there is intent to injure or if bodily harm is caused. He warned that while charges for snowball-throwing are rare, targeting a federal agent could lead to serious federal felony charges with steep penalties. "I would imagine that the Trump administration is paying particular attention to Minnesota right now," Tamburino stated, urging public caution.
As communities continue to organise against the raids, the use of snow as a tool of protest underscores the deepening tensions surrounding immigration enforcement under the current administration.
