Aggressive immigration raids, fatal shooting and legal pushback deepen tensions in Twin Cities
January 14, 2026: An aggressive immigration enforcement drive under the Trump administration has sharply escalated tensions across Minneapolis and surrounding areas, with viral videos of ICE and U.S. Border Patrol operations triggering fear among immigrant communities, workers and local businesses. Arrests in public spaces such as streets, parking lots and shopping centres have become increasingly visible, disrupting daily life. One widely circulated video shows a young man in a reflective vest being detained outside a Target store as he repeatedly claims to be a U.S. citizen, fuelling outrage and anxiety across the Twin Cities.
The crackdown has placed particular pressure on Minnesota’s Somali community after the administration announced plans to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for around 2,500 Somali immigrants, stripping them of legal residency and work rights from March 17. Federal officials have justified the surge by citing a fraud case involving some community members, a move critics say unfairly targets an entire population. Local businesses report falling footfall as workers avoid public places due to fear of encounters with federal agents.
Tensions intensified further following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old U.S. citizen Renee Nicole Good by ICE officer Jonathan Ross, an incident that has sparked widespread protests and demands for accountability. While federal authorities claimed Good posed a threat, independent video reviews have raised serious questions about that account. In response, Minnesota, along with Minneapolis and St. Paul, has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security to block continued ICE deployments, as community resistance and legal challenges continue to grow.