Minnesota is gripped by tension after days of protests against immigration agents, marked by tear gas use, a fatal shooting, and a landmark lawsuit by state and local leaders against the Trump administration's massive ICE enforcement surge, which they label a 'federal invasion' and a violation of constitutional rights.
Days of intense demonstrations against immigration agents have left Minnesota on edge, culminating in federal authorities deploying tear gas to disperse crowds and a significant lawsuit filed by the state, Minneapolis, and St. Paul against the Trump administration. The unrest follows the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer, sparking nationwide protests. On Monday, confrontations escalated across multiple cities, with agents firing tear gas in Minneapolis and hundreds protesting outside Somali-run businesses in St. Cloud. The lawsuit seeks to halt or limit what ICE calls its largest enforcement operation ever, pledging over 2,000 officers to Minnesota. State Attorney General Keith Ellison described the surge as a 'federal invasion,' accusing the Department of Homeland Security of violating First Amendment and other constitutional protections by targeting a progressive state. Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin defended the administration, stating President Trump's duty is to enforce the law and accusing Minnesota officials of ignoring public safety. The Trump administration also defended the agent involved in Good's shooting, citing a threat, an explanation widely disputed by Minnesota officials based on video evidence. This legal challenge mirrors a new lawsuit in Illinois over a similar immigration crackdown, 'Operation Midway Blitz,' which allegedly created a 'chilling effect.' Separately, federal authorities in Portland, Oregon, filed charges against a Venezuelan national shot by U.S. Border Patrol after an incident involving a pickup truck, an event for which no video exists.
