Over 15,000 protesters braved temperatures as low as -24°C in Minneapolis on Friday, January 23, 2026, in one of Minnesota’s largest-ever demonstrations demanding the removal of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The protest, organized under the banner “ICE Out of Minnesota: A Day of Truth and Freedom,” saw labor unions, faith leaders, and healthcare workers join forces, shutting down airport roads and prompting over 700 businesses to close in solidarity.
The unrest follows the January 7 killing of 37-year-old U.S. citizen Renee Good by an ICE agent during an enforcement operation, which the Hennepin County Medical Examiner ruled a homicide. Tensions escalated further with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) “Operation Metro Surge,” deploying thousands of federal personnel to Minneapolis since December 2025 and resulting in over 3,000 arrests.
Protesters gathered at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport at dawn, blocking Terminal 1 roads before marching downtown. Signs reading “ICE Out Now” dotted the crowd, while organizers distributed hand warmers to combat the cold. Labor unions highlighted the detention of over 20 union members, warning of broader community impacts.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison condemned the federal operation, stating it has led to racial profiling and harassment. Meanwhile, Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino defended the actions as “legal, ethical, and moral.” A federal judge ordered the release of a detained two-year-old child ahead of a Monday hearing on the state’s lawsuit.
The protest’s scale drew comparisons to Minnesota’s historic 1934 Truckers’ Strike, underscoring its significance in a year marked by heightened debates over immigration enforcement and civil rights.
