Nationwide Protests Erupt as Federal Immigration Crackdown Sparks Civil Unrest
By Brad Brooks, Daniel Trotta and Rich McKay
MINNEAPOLIS, Jan 30 (Reuters) – A national day of action against aggressive federal immigration enforcement brought thousands into the streets of Minneapolis and prompted student walkouts from coast to coast on Friday. The demonstrations, fueled by the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents this month, represent a significant escalation in public pushback against the Trump administration's "Operation Metro Surge."
In sub-zero temperatures, a diverse crowd—from families with young children to elderly couples and community activists—converged on downtown Minneapolis. Their demand was singular: the immediate withdrawal of the estimated 3,000 federal officers deployed to the area, a force that dwarfs the local police department.
"I'm the daughter of immigrants who came here for safety and opportunity," said Katia Kagan, 28, a local teacher wearing a 'No ICE' sweatshirt. "I'm fighting for the American dream they believed in, which feels like it's under direct attack right now."
The protests were not confined to Minnesota. Organizers under the banner "National Shutdown" listed over 250 actions in 46 states. Schools in Aurora, Colorado, and Tucson, Arizona, closed preemptively. In Chicago, DePaul University students declared their campus a "sanctuary," while in New York and California, high school students marched with defiant signs.
The political fallout intensified in Washington. A last-minute deal to avoid a partial government shutdown, negotiated between Senate Democrats and the White House, teetered on the brink of collapse as Friday progressed. The stalemate centers on funding for the Department of Homeland Security, ICE's parent agency.
Adding to the turmoil, former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested and charged in connection with a protest at a Minnesota church, a move his attorney labeled "an unprecedented attack on the First Amendment."
Public sentiment appears to be shifting. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll shows approval of the administration's immigration policy at its lowest ebb, a trend attributed to widespread circulation of videos showing heavily armed, masked agents patrolling Minneapolis streets.
In response to the growing uproar, the administration sent Tom Homan, the president's border czar, to Minneapolis. He pledged a return to "more targeted operations" instead of broad street sweeps. President Trump, however, sent mixed signals, at one point suggesting a desire to "de-escalate" but later accusing Minnesota protesters of being "paid insurrectionists."
The Justice Department has opened a civil rights investigation into one of the shootings, though officials were quick to characterize it as a standard procedure.
Voices from the Public:
Marcus Johnson, 42, Political Science Professor, University of Michigan: "This isn't just about immigration policy anymore. It's a constitutional stress test. The deployment of a paramilitary federal force into an American city, coupled with the rhetoric against protesters, sets a dangerous precedent for federal overreach."
Priya Sharma, 35, Small Business Owner, Denver: "The fear and disruption are real. My employees are scared to come to work. While I understand the need for law and order, this operation feels like an occupation, not a solution. It's hurting communities and the local economy."
David Chen, 58, Retired Marine Corps Sergeant, Phoenix: "Absolute disgrace. These agents are doing a job Congress has failed to do for decades—enforcing the law. The protesters and the politicians shielding them are encouraging lawlessness. If you're here legally, you have nothing to fear."
Eleanor Vance, 67, Community Organizer, Minneapolis (Sharply Critical): "This is fascism, plain and simple. They're terrorizing our neighborhoods and murdering citizens with impunity. Trump's thugs in tactical gear are a stain on this country. Every politician who votes to fund this cruelty has blood on their hands."