MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Tensions flared once again in Minneapolis as immigration officers, with guns drawn, arrested several activists trailing their vehicles. This incident comes on the heels of heightened scrutiny around immigration enforcement policies following the recent departure of a prominent commander who previously oversaw operations in the region.
Witnesses reported at least one activist, prominently displaying anti-ICE clothing, being handcuffed while lying face-down on the ground—an alarming spectacle that further illustrates the strained relationship between local residents and federal immigration agencies.
In the current environment, immigration officers have shifted their strategy to more targeted arrests within neighborhoods, rather than staging in public parking lots. Consequently, alerts have transformed from direct action reports to simple sightings of enforcement activities.
On social media, activists have been sharing information about officers' movements, suggesting an atmosphere of vigilance and concern surrounding immigrant rights. Following several vehicles through south Minneapolis, this group of activists aimed to raise awareness of the potential for detentions, indicating the growing grassroots mobilization against federal actions in their communities.
Despite heightened tensions, legal developments have begun to shape the narrative. A federal judge previously imposed limits on law enforcement's ability to detain individuals simply for following them in their vehicles without obstructing operations. However, an appellate court overturned this ruling, leaving the status of such preventive measures ambiguous.
With the ongoing scrutiny of immigration enforcement and the fallout from community mobilizations, the dynamics in Minneapolis remain fraught as local leaders grapple with the implications of federal actions happening within their neighborhoods.
