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Immigration Agents Arrest Minneapolis Activists, Draw Guns Amid School‑Focused Enforcement Shift

Updated (4 articles)

Arrests Occur After Agents’ Convoy Is Followed Immigration officers in south Minneapolis stopped several cars on Feb. 3, 2026, drew firearms, ordered occupants out at gunpoint, and handcuffed at least one activist face‑down while a photographer documented the scene [1][2]. The activists had been trailing the agents’ convoy, a tactic the Justice Department says hindered the arrest of an undocumented man [1]. A federal appeals court later overturned a lower‑court ruling that mere following does not create reasonable suspicion [1][2].

Leadership Change Follows Fatal Protester Shooting Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino departed Minneapolis shortly after the Jan. 2026 shooting of protester Alex Pretti, prompting the arrival of Trump‑admin border czar Tom Homan [1][2]. Homan warned protesters that interference could lead to consequences, while state officials linked the enforcement shift to schools [1][2]. The leadership turnover underscores heightened tension between federal agents and local activists.

Schools Report Heightened Fear and Security Measures Governor Tim Walz and Fridley superintendent Brenda Lewis said the focus on schools has created a chilling effect on students, parents, and staff [1][2]. Lewis, a U.S. citizen, reported ICE agents tailing her twice and increasing security around schools [1]. Officials argue the enforcement strategy threatens educational environments and community safety.

City Faces Federal Grand‑Jury Record Deadline Minneapolis was ordered to produce records by Tuesday for a Justice Department grand jury probing possible obstruction of immigration enforcement [1][2]. City officials claim compliance and describe the subpoena as a political bullying tactic [1][2]. The deadline adds pressure on local authorities amid ongoing protests.

Related Prosecutions Highlight Ongoing Tensions Activist Anthony Kazmierczak remains jailed after spraying Rep. Ilhan Omar with apple‑cider vinegar, and two Venezuelan men briefly released on assault charges were quickly re‑detained by ICE [1]. These cases illustrate the broader clash between immigrant‑rights advocates and federal immigration enforcement.

Sources

Timeline

Dec 2025 – Protesters file a federal lawsuit challenging ICE’s use of arrests, pepper spray and vehicle stops against peaceful demonstrators in Minneapolis, alleging violations of constitutional rights. [1]

Early Jan 2026 – A woman is fatally shot inside her car during a protest, prompting ICE agents to point rifles, deploy chemical irritants and break vehicle windows in subsequent confrontations, heightening tensions over federal crowd‑control tactics. [3]

Jan 15, 2026 – ICE officers point firearms at demonstrators, use chemical irritants and smash windows while pulling occupants from cars; the ACLU of Minnesota files an emergency injunction seeking to bar such tactics as unlawful and unconstitutional. [3]

Jan 18, 2026 – U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez issues an 83‑page order prohibiting arrests, pepper‑spray and vehicle stops without articulable suspicion of obstruction, tightening limits on ICE actions against peaceful protesters; DHS defends the measures as constitutional, while a White House spokesperson calls the ruling “absurd.” [1]

Jan 18‑21, 2026 – Roughly 1,500 active‑duty soldiers stand by in Alaska for possible deployment and the Minnesota National Guard is placed on alert ahead of anticipated weekend protests and a counter‑protest organized by a conservative influencer. [1]

Early Jan 2026 – Protester Alex Pretti is fatally shot, marking the second killing of a U.S. citizen that month; Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino departs Minneapolis shortly thereafter. [2][4]

Feb 3, 2026 – Immigration officers in south Minneapolis draw firearms, order activists trailing an ICE convoy out at gunpoint, handcuff at least one protester face‑down and warn reporters about pepper spray, stating the activists “hindered the arrest of an undocumented man.” [2][4]

Feb 3, 2026 – A federal appeals court overturns Judge Menendez’s restriction that merely following ICE agents does not create reasonable suspicion, reopening the legal standard for vehicle stops. [2]

Feb 3, 2026 – New border czar Tom Homan warns protesters of consequences for interference, while Governor Tim Walz says the enforcement shift “moves to the schools, the children,” citing a chilling effect on students and staff. [2][4]

Early Feb 2026 (by Feb 6) – Minneapolis is ordered to turn over immigration‑enforcement records to a Justice Department grand jury probing alleged obstruction by state officials; city leaders assert compliance despite claims the subpoenas target Democrats. [2]

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