At a Glance
- Viral videos show federal agents slipping on icy Minnesota sidewalks during immigration raids
- ICE reportedly uses an AI resume tool that fast-tracks applicants who mention the word “officer”
- Native Americans, U.S. citizens, and Somali residents report harassment and detention
- Why it matters: The incidents highlight concerns about agent training and the human impact of federal immigration operations
Minnesota’s winter has become an unexpected obstacle for federal agents conducting immigration raids. Videos circulating on TikTok, X, and Bluesky show officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol losing their footing on icy sidewalks, drawing cheers from onlookers and fueling online mockery.
Agents on Ice
Footage compiled from Minneapolis and other cities captures agents falling while attempting to detain individuals. One video features an agent slipping hard on his tailbone as a crowd cheers. Another shows an agent repeatedly tumbling before grabbing a bystander, prompting laughter and insults from witnesses.
Editors have added soundtracks like Foreigner’s Cold as Ice and Vanilla Ice’s Ice Ice Baby to the clips. Some remixes include creative graphics and pop-culture references. While not every location has been independently verified, multiple angles and timestamps suggest most videos are authentic.
Fast-Track Hiring
Behind the viral falls lies a more serious issue: ICE’s hiring process. According to NBC News, the agency uses an AI tool to review resumes. The system reportedly fast-tracks applicants into shorter training if they simply use the word “officer.”
A Slate journalist wrote that she was quickly offered a job despite her anti-ICE views, adding that a basic background check would have disqualified her. Critics argue the minimal vetting contributes to the agents’ lack of preparedness, both operationally and environmentally.
Harassment Claims
Residents across Minnesota describe aggressive encounters. Somali community members say they are being targeted under what President Donald Trump calls an immigration crackdown. Native Americans report similar treatment. Three members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe remain in ICE custody after being detained on Jan. 9, according to local outlet Bring Me the News.
Tribal president Frank Star Comes Out says ICE asked the tribe to sign an agreement granting agents easier access to tribal land; the tribe refused. Jose Roberto Ramirez, a 20-year-old U.S. citizen and Red Lake Nation descendant, was also arrested and later released.
Deadly Incident
Not every confrontation ends with bruised egos. On Jan. 7 ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis. A Minneapolis Fire Department incident report released Friday states Good had an “irregular pulse” when responders removed her from her vehicle.
Video from the scene shows a man identifying himself as a doctor being told he cannot approach Good. Ross, who lives in the Minneapolis suburb of Chaska, had reportedly told neighbors he worked as a botanist. A new poll this week shows 57% of Americans disapprove of ICE, with 74% of Democrats favoring abolishment.
Operation Metro Surge
The federal action is officially labeled Operation Metro Surge. President Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, writing on Truth Social that he might deploy the military. Critics argue the move would only escalate tensions.
Local residents question the government’s motives. They note that auditors, not masked agents, would investigate voter fraud. Instead, they say, masked officers are terrorizing communities.
Weather Woes
Forecasters predict temperatures in the single digits and wind chills near -20°F next week. For agents unused to Midwestern winters, the cold may prove more punishing than the ice. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to News Of Fort Worth‘s questions about the viral videos or whether agents receive cold-weather training.
Key Takeaways
- Viral clips underscore public resistance to federal tactics in Minnesota
- Reports of AI-driven hiring and minimal vetting raise safety concerns
- Detentions of Native Americans and U.S. citizens fuel claims that the raids extend beyond immigration enforcement
- Forecasted sub-zero temperatures may further challenge agents’ ability to operate effectively
