ICE Agents Arrest Activists Without Warrants; Video Reveals New Tactics

Immigration officers with guns drawn arrested several activists in Minneapolis after stopping vehicles that had been following federal agents during immigration operations, according to accounts from the scene and state officials.

The arrests took place on Tuesday in south Minneapolis, where activists had been tracking Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicles following reports of agents knocking on doors in residential neighbourhoods. Officers ordered individuals out of a car at gunpoint and warned journalists to stay back, threatening the use of pepper spray.

The incident comes amid heightened tension in the Twin Cities following a series of federal immigration sweeps and leadership changes within border enforcement operations.

Shift in Federal Enforcement Strategy

State officials and activists say federal immigration agents have changed their tactics in recent weeks. Rather than staging visible operations in large parking lots, officers are now carrying out more targeted arrests at homes and within neighbourhoods.

Activist group chats that once focused on confirmed immigration detentions are now largely sharing sightings of federal vehicles. Convoys have become harder to locate, and operations appear quieter but more deliberate.

Governor Tim Walz said the change has created a different atmosphere across the state. 'There's less smoke on the ground,' Walz said, referring to the earlier use of tear gas and crowd-control measures. 'But I think it's more chilling than it was last week because of the shift to the schools, the shift to the children.'

Arrests Follow Activist Surveillance

According to witnesses, several cars followed federal officers through south Minneapolis after reports emerged that agents were knocking on doors. Officers then stopped the vehicles and detained activists, saying they had interfered with an arrest operation.

Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the activists were detained because they hindered efforts to arrest a man who was in the country illegally. No further details were immediately provided about whether the activists were charged or released.

Video from the scene showed officers with weapons drawn, a move that has raised concerns among civil rights groups and state leaders about the escalation of force during immigration enforcement.

Legal Limits and Court Rulings

The arrests come against a complicated legal backdrop. A federal judge last month ruled that simply following immigration officers at a safe distance does not automatically justify a vehicle stop.

The judge stated that safely following agents 'at an appropriate distance does not, by itself, create reasonable suspicion' to stop a motorist. However, an appeals court later set that order aside, giving federal officers broader discretion while the case continues.

Legal experts note that this uncertainty has left activists and officers operating in a tense and unclear environment, especially during fast-moving enforcement actions.

Fear Spreads to Schools and Families

Beyond the arrests, Minnesota education leaders say immigration enforcement is having a chilling effect on school communities.

At a news conference, Governor Walz joined school leaders who described fear and anxiety among students, parents and staff. Brenda Lewis, superintendent of Fridley Public Schools, said she has been followed twice by ICE agents since speaking publicly about immigration enforcement on Jan. 27.

Lewis, a US citizen, said ICE vehicles have also been seen outside the homes of school board members. She described SUVs with tinted windows, masked occupants and out-of-state number plates.

'Students are afraid to come to school, parents are afraid to drop them off,' Lewis said. 'Staff are coming to work wondering if today will be the day something happens in one of our buildings.'

Schools Respond with Added Support

Fridley Public Schools, which serves families from Somali and Ecuadorian communities, has taken several steps in response. The district has increased security, adjusted drop-off procedures and expanded mental health support for students.

Tracy Xiong, a social worker in the nearby Columbia Heights district, said she has been coordinating grocery deliveries to families and organising volunteers to help drive children to school when parents are afraid to travel.

Education leaders say these measures are necessary to ensure students feel safe, even as uncertainty around federal immigration activity continues.