Federal law enforcement officers employed teargas to break up a demonstration outside a hotel in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where protesters had gathered believing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were residing. The incident occurred on Sunday evening, escalating after some participants vandalised the property with graffiti and attempted to damage windows.
Protest Turns Confrontational at University-Area Hotel
According to reports from the Minnesota Daily, protesters assembled at the Home2 Suites by Hilton near the University of Minnesota. This gathering was directly linked to the recent fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse at a local Veterans Administration hospital, by US border patrol personnel. Video footage from the scene captured demonstrators making loud noises outside the establishment and defacing windows with messages such as "ICE out," explicitly referencing the federal immigration agency.
Law Enforcement Response and Use of Chemical Irritants
The New York Post detailed that protesters also tried to throw objects at individuals inside the hotel lobby and smash windows. In response, two federal officers armed with long guns were stationed outside the lobby as the crowd grew. One officer was heard inquiring about the whereabouts of local police in video recordings. Ultimately, law enforcement dispersed the protesters using a chemical irritant commonly known as teargas.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety issued a statement explaining that the state patrol and department of natural resources had been summoned to assist Minneapolis police with property damage at the hotel. The statement noted, "While they collaboratively worked to encircle the group for arrests because the demonstration was not peaceful, federal agents arrived without communication and deployed chemical irritants, clearing the group." It added that state authorities were no longer present at the location following the intervention.
Background: Recent ICE-Related Violence in Minneapolis
This protest emerged just two days after Pretti's death, which Trump administration officials have defended despite video evidence showing he was unarmed and restrained when shot. Additionally, on 7 January, an ICE agent named Jonathan Ross fatally shot another 37-year-old US citizen, Renee Nicole Good, in Minneapolis as she attempted to drive away from an encounter with him.
Political Reactions and Calls for Federal Withdrawal
Tim Walz, the Democratic governor of Minnesota who served as Kamala Harris's running mate in the 2024 presidential election, has publicly urged the White House to withdraw federal immigration enforcement agents from Minneapolis. Agents have been increasing their presence in the city since December. On Sunday, Walz appealed directly to President Trump, stating, "President Trump, you can end this today. Pull these folks back. Do humane, focused, effective immigration control – you've got the support of all of us to do that. Please show some decency. Pull these folks out."
The situation underscores ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the United States, particularly in urban areas like Minneapolis where federal actions have sparked public outcry and civil unrest.
