The U.S. Department of Homeland Security reports that 400 arrests have been made in Minnesota since operations began on Dec. 1. The enforcement actions have centered primarily on Minneapolis’ Somali community, particularly near Karmel Mall, the nation’s first Somali shopping center.
On Monday afternoon, dozens of residents confronted ICE agents near Lake Street and Pillsbury Avenue in south Minneapolis. WCCO reporter Esme Murphy, who was at the scene, described hearing whistles followed by people screaming and running, with pushing and shoving before agents detained a woman face-down on the ground.
“We kept yelling, ‘She is pregnant, she’s pregnant,'” said observer Tonika Deutch. “They put their knees on her. We kept telling them, ‘She can’t breathe, let her up, let her up.'”
The 63-page ACLU lawsuit filed Wednesday includes allegations that ICE agents threw “peaceful” protesters and observers to the ground, shot them with pepper balls and pepper-sprayed them. The suit names six plaintiffs from Minneapolis and Fridley.
Susan Tincher, a 55-year-old Minneapolis resident and lead plaintiff, said agents rushed her, grabbed her and slammed her face-first into the snow after she asked if they were ICE while standing on a sidewalk about six feet from officers. Tincher was arrested, taken to the Whipple Building where federal immigration activities are headquartered, and held in a cell for hours.
The lawsuit also alleges that ICE agents “rammed” observer Moriah O’Malley with their car as she filmed a Nov. 18 raid at Bro-Tex Inc. in St. Paul, knocking her to the ground. ICE said they arrested 14 people on immigration violations during that operation.
The New York Times reported that the operation involves “strike teams” of roughly 100 ICE officers and agents from around the country brought in specifically for the Minnesota operation.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Brian O’Hara have said the enforcement actions specifically target the Somali and Latino communities, leading to fear and decreased foot traffic for immigrant-owned businesses. “Mistakes will be made — and let’s be clear — it means that American citizens will be detained for no other reason than the fact that they look like they are Somali,” Frey said.
Over a hundred students at Apple Valley High School walked out of class Monday afternoon to protest the federal immigration actions. Similar walkouts occurred in Burnsville last week.
Both Minneapolis and St. Paul are sanctuary cities, meaning local police do not question residents’ immigration status or enforce immigration law, which is a federal responsibility.
Minneapolis City Council member Jamal Gomez called the situation “a full-on federal invasion.”
The enhanced ICE actions came shortly after President Trump said he does not want Somalis “in our country” and claimed Somalis are “completely taking over the once great State of Minnesota.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has not responded to requests for comment but has previously stated that its agents have increasingly come under attack while performing their duties.
Discover more from Daily Planet
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
