🕊️✊ Dozens of clergy members were arrested in Minnesota on January 22, 2026, during a fiery day of protests against the Trump administration's intensified immigration crackdown. The demonstrations, dubbed 'ICE OUT!', saw businesses shuttering statewide and workers flooding streets in what organizers called a historic 'general strike.'
Prayers, Protests, and Police
Clergy knelt in prayer at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, singing hymns before being detained. The action followed weeks of clashes between ICE agents and activists opposing the deployment of thousands of federal officers to the Twin Cities. Protesters demand accountability for the ICE agent who fatally shot U.S. citizen Renee Good earlier this month.
Statewide Shutdown
Bars, restaurants, and shops closed as temperatures plunged below freezing. Organizers claimed it was Minnesota's largest labor-backed protest since Trump ordered raids targeting Somali immigrants and undocumented residents. 'We’re under siege,' said nonprofit worker Patty O'Keefe, 36, at a downtown rally. 'Normal protests aren’t enough anymore.'
Corporate Silence Draws Fire
Major Minnesota-based companies like Target and UnitedHealth faced criticism for staying silent on the raids. State lawmakers pressed retailers for clarity on how employees should respond if ICE agents enter stores. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance defended the administration's approach during a Thursday visit, pledging to 'lower the temperature.'
📢 With whistles blaring nightly and tear gas lingering in the air, Minnesota’s battle over immigration shows no signs of cooling off.
