Anti-ICE protesters violently swarmed a Minneapolis hotel where they believed federal officers were staying
Anti-ICE protesters violently swarmed a Minneapolis hotel where they believed federal officers were staying

Late Sunday night, protesters opposing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) gathered outside a hotel in St. Paul, Minnesota, after reports circulated online that federal immigration agents were staying there. The confrontation marked one of the most serious incidents yet in a wave of demonstrations sweeping the state.

According to police and multiple media outlets, hundreds of demonstrators surrounded the hotel, chanting anti-ICE slogans and attempting to enter the building. Some windows were damaged and objects were thrown, prompting law enforcement to establish a perimeter. Authorities said crowd-control measures were used to disperse the gathering.

At least one law enforcement officer was injured during the incident and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Several protesters were arrested, though officials did not immediately release exact numbers. Police later stated they could not confirm whether federal agents were actually staying at the hotel at the time.

Read more:

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The confrontation came amid heightened unrest in Minnesota, following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident, during an encounter involving federal agents earlier in the weekend. His death reignited public anger already inflamed by another fatal shooting during immigration enforcement operations earlier in January.

Minnesota has seen near-daily protests since the launch of Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale federal immigration enforcement initiative that significantly expanded ICE activity in the state. Civil rights groups and local officials have criticized the operation, arguing it has increased the risk of violence and eroded trust between communities and law enforcement.

State leaders, including Governor Tim Walz, have called for federal authorities to limit aggressive enforcement tactics and to cooperate more closely with local governments. While many demonstrations have remained peaceful, Sunday’s hotel incident highlighted growing tensions as protests continue across the Twin Cities.

Authorities said investigations into both the shooting and the hotel confrontation are ongoing.