Massive Business Shut-Down in Minnesota as Protesters Rally Against ICE Operations

Sat Jan 24 2026 18:17:05 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant demonstration against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions, hundreds of businesses in Minnesota closed their doors to protest as thousands took to the streets in frigid temperatures. The protests highlight growing concerns over immigration policies and their impact on local communities.

Hundreds of businesses in Minnesota shut down on Friday, joining a mass protest against ICE activities as thousands braved temperatures as low as -23°C to voice opposition. The protests were driven by outrage over recent immigration enforcement tactics, including the arrest of students and families. Organizers called for a day of solidarity to respond to the disruption caused by ICE, while many business owners expressed the economic implications of the immigration crackdown on their enterprises.

Hundreds of businesses in Minnesota closed on Friday and thousands of protesters turned out in severely cold weather to demonstrate against the ongoing immigration crackdown in the state.

The widespread rallies come after organisers encouraged residents to skip work or school and refrain from shopping in a show of opposition to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The ICE operation ordered by the Trump administration in Minnesota has been going on for more than six weeks.

The administration has characterised it as a public safety operation aimed at deporting criminals illegally in the country. Critics warn migrants with no criminal record and US citizens are being detained too.

On Friday, about 100 clergy members were arrested at the Minneapolis airport while holding a protest calling on US airlines to refuse to transport detainees arrested by ICE.

A spokesman for the airports commission told the Minnesota Reformer that the arrests took place after the permitted activity went beyond agreed upon terms and was to done to protect the public safety and airport access.

Thousands of federal officers have been deployed to Minnesota as part of Operation Metro Surge. The killing of 37-year-old Minneapolis woman Renee Good earlier this month flared tensions across the state and brought condemnation from local officials.

We want ICE out of Minnesota, and we want ICE out of every state, with their extreme overreach, said Bishop Dwayne Royster, whose organisation Faith in Action is supporting local partners in Minneapolis during the strike. We want Congress to stand up and provide oversight to ICE.

Friday's marches are thought to be the largest display of opposition to date to the current immigration policy in the state, as thousands of people walked downtown through temperatures of -23C (-10F).

Protesters chanted and played music, with many business owners, like Corey Lamb of Harriet Grove Botanicals, joining the cause, expressing concerns over the impact on their businesses and community.

Others included Kim Bartmann, owner of several restaurants, who articulated the financial strain of closing down despite solidarity with the protest. She noted a significant drop in sales due to fear and distrust within the community stemming from ICE's operations.

The presence of ICE has led to widespread concern, especially after reports of children's detentions, invoking further backlash against current immigration practices.

In a statement, Vice-President JD Vance emphasized the need for local Minnesota law enforcement to collaborate with federal officers for immigration enforcement, though many municipalities maintain sanctuary policies limiting such cooperation.

This week, concerns escalated when an FBI agent resigned over the handling of the investigation into Good's killing, highlighting the complex relationship between law enforcement and community trust.