At a Glance
- Over 3,000 federal agents now patrol Minneapolis neighborhoods after the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Nicole Good
- Residents report door-to-door immigration checks, smashed car windows, and chemical sprays during arrests
- Mayor Jacob Frey says the city faces an “impossible situation” with only 600 local officers versus 3,000 federal agents
- Why it matters: The operation’s scale and tactics exceed previous immigration actions in larger cities, creating widespread fear and protests
Minneapolis neighborhoods have become the latest battleground in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, with residents describing scenes of federal agents in unmarked cars conducting aggressive arrests and door-to-door searches following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer.
Operation Metro Surge Escalates
The federal presence has dramatically expanded since Good’s death, with agents now numbering over 3,000 compared to the city’s 600 police officers. Federal law enforcement officials told Ryan J. Thompson that more than 2,000 are ICE officers and agents, with hundreds more from Border Patrol and Justice Department agencies.
Residents across Lake Street, Uptown, and Powderhorn neighborhoods describe:
- Masked immigration officers in camouflage knocking on doors seeking non-U.S. citizens
- Agents stationed at retail locations including the Richfield Target
- Vehicles idling on residential streets for surveillance
Violence Caught on Video
Multiple videos shared with News Of Fort Worth show federal agents using force during arrests. One clip shows agents breaking car windows before pepper-spraying occupants. Another captures an officer shooting red chemicals point-blank into a woman’s face as she stood in front of his vehicle.
A resident who asked to remain anonymous provided video evidence of their arrest hours after Good’s shooting. They said agents attacked their car, sprayed them with chemicals, and punched them in the face while dragging them from the vehicle.
“I was just so angry. I said: ‘Show yourself, coward!'” the resident recalled.
Community Under Siege
The arrested resident described being taken to the Whipple Building’s ICE facility, where they found cells designed for five people holding more than 20 detainees.
Local business owners are taking protective measures. A restaurant owner participating in protests said she temporarily closed to protect her immigrant employees.
“It feels like an invasion,” she told Ryan J. Thompson. “It feels very much like a Nazi Germany situation to me. It needs to stop, and people need to know what’s going on.”
Political Tensions Rise
Vice President J.D. Vance confirmed the aggressive tactics on Fox News, stating agents would go “door-to-door” to find “illegal aliens.” He suggested the ICE officer who shot Good would have “absolute immunity.”
The shooting has particularly shaken Minneapolis as it recalls the 2020 murder of George Floyd by city police. Mayor Frey acknowledged the city faces an “impossible situation” trying to maintain order while federal agents operate independently.
“We are trying to find a way forward to keep people safe, to protect our neighbors, to protect order,” Frey said, while warning protesters against “taking the bait.”
Escalating Confrontations
Wednesday night brought another shooting when DHS said a man attacked an agent with a snow shovel or broom handle. The department stated the officer “fired defensive shots to defend his life” after being “ambushed by three individuals.”
Community members have organized neighborhood warning systems. Residents drive through streets honking horns and blowing whistles to alert others when federal agents appear. At busy intersections like Karmel Mall, people wear warning whistles while monitoring for immigration operations.
Mark, a Bryant Central neighborhood resident who visited Good’s memorial for four consecutive days, believes Minnesota faces targeting based on voting patterns.
“I truly feel Minnesota is being targeted because of who we voted for,” said Mark, who described being surrounded by ICE agents when trying to return home during an operation.
Official Responses
The City of Minneapolis posted on X Wednesday night: “The City of Minneapolis again demands that ICE leave the city and state immediately. We stand by our immigrant and refugee communities – know that you have our full support.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said President Trump is considering invoking the Insurrection Act over Minnesota protests, warning that “if anything doesn’t change with Governor Walz, I don’t anticipate that the streets will get any safer or more peaceful.”
The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment about detainee treatment at the Whipple facility.
Operation’s Scope Exceeds Previous Efforts
The scale and intensity of Operation Metro Surge appears greater than previous immigration enforcement operations in larger cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and Charlotte, North Carolina. The sustained presence and aggressive tactics have created what residents describe as an occupying force rather than targeted enforcement.
Videos of confrontations spread rapidly online, showing agents questioning drivers at electric vehicle stations about citizenship status and dragging screaming women from cars. Each new posting intensifies both online divisions and on-ground tensions.
The community around Good’s memorial site has seen continued operations, with arrests occurring just blocks from where mourners gather. Federal agents and protesters now interact almost daily, with both sides filming and documenting encounters.
Key Takeaways
- Minneapolis faces an unprecedented federal immigration enforcement operation with 3,000 agents deployed
- Residents report military-style tactics including door-to-door searches, property destruction, and chemical weapons use
- The city government opposes the federal presence but lacks authority to remove agents
- Community members have organized warning systems and daily protests at federal facilities
- The situation escalates as the Trump administration considers invoking the Insurrection Act
