Tens of thousands of protesters marched through downtown Minneapolis in subzero temperatures Friday, demanding an end to federal immigration enforcement operations as nearly 500 businesses across Minnesota closed in a coordinated economic blackout.
The demonstration, dubbed “ICE Out of Minnesota: A Day of Truth and Freedom,” drew large crowds despite wind chills reaching 25 degrees below zero. Protesters marched from The Commons near U.S. Bank Stadium to Target Center, where a rally was held inside the arena.
Organizers distributed hand warmers to demonstrators who chanted “ICE out” and carried signs reading “The North is stronger” and “Immigrants make America great.” Many protesters demanded justice for Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis woman fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent on Jan. 7.
“Today is the coldest day of the entire year in Minnesota, and we have the biggest protest to date happening,” said Amal Ahmed, 30, as crowds gathered downtown Friday afternoon.
Guy Hammink, a St. Paul resident who attended the protest, explained his motivation for braving the extreme cold.
“There are people who are scared to go outside,” Hammink said. “And people who aren’t being targeted, I feel like there’s an obligation for those people to stand up for those who are being targeted. So I’m just here to show my support for my neighbors.”
The protests occurred across multiple locations throughout the day. Approximately 100 clergy members were arrested at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Friday morning during a peaceful demonstration calling on Delta Air Lines and Signature Aviation to cease cooperation with federal authorities conducting deportation flights.
The Rev. Elizabeth Barish Browne, a Unitarian Universalist minister who traveled from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to participate in the downtown rally, described the federal operation as immoral.
“What’s happening here is clearly immoral,” Browne said. “It’s definitely chilly, but the kind of ice that’s dangerous to us is not the weather.”
The demonstrations came in response to Operation Metro Surge, which the Department of Homeland Security has called the largest immigration enforcement operation ever carried out. The Trump administration deployed more than 3,000 federal immigration personnel to Minneapolis beginning in December, following viral allegations of fraud at child care centers.
According to DHS, officers have apprehended more than 3,000 people over the past six weeks, though the administration has released names for only about 240 of those arrested. Federal officials have characterized those detained as dangerous criminals, though verification of these claims has been limited.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a federal lawsuit earlier this month seeking to end Operation Metro Surge, describing it as “in essence, a federal invasion of the Twin Cities and Minnesota.” The lawsuit alleges the operation violates the First and Tenth Amendments and has forced municipalities to divert law enforcement resources, strained emergency responders, and caused schools to implement lockdowns and closures.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey signed an executive order banning federal officials from using city property for staging areas. Minneapolis Police tracked over 3,000 hours of overtime between Jan. 7 and Jan. 9 related to the federal operation, with estimated costs exceeding $2 million.
Vice President JD Vance visited Minneapolis Thursday and blamed local and state authorities for what he called a “failure of cooperation” contributing to rising tensions. Minneapolis police leaders and officials from Brooklyn Park and other jurisdictions have reported incidents of federal agents racially profiling individuals, including off-duty police officers.
The economic blackout Friday saw hundreds of businesses across Minnesota close their doors. Labor unions, faith leaders and community activists organized the action, encouraging residents to stay home from work and school and refrain from shopping or dining out.
Target Center, home arena of the Minnesota Timberwolves and owned by the city of Minneapolis, hosted the ticketed rally event Friday afternoon. The choice of venue was symbolic, as protesters have criticized Minneapolis-based Target Corp. for its silence regarding ICE operations after federal agents arrested two U.S. citizen employees at a Richfield store earlier this month.
The downtown Minneapolis Central Library welcomed protesters seeking brief reprieve from the cold, with a cafe offering free coffee and snacks in the second-floor Doty Board Room.
Protester John Olsen, a South Minneapolis resident, spoke with reporters about his decision to participate despite the dangerous temperatures.
“It’s a difficult time,” Olsen said through an icicle-covered beard. “I wanted to show up.”
Traffic and transit faced significant disruptions throughout downtown Minneapolis as thousands of demonstrators filled the streets. Metro Transit reported delays and route changes as the protest proceeded from The Commons to Target Center.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner determined Good’s manner of death was homicide, caused by multiple gunshot wounds. Federal officials claimed Good attempted to run over law enforcement officers, a claim local officials have disputed. The FBI opened a civil rights investigation into the shooting before reportedly changing course.
“The video evidence depicting the events of January 7, 2026, is clear, particularly when viewed through the standards of reasonable policing and totality of circumstances,” said Antonio Romanucci, lead attorney for Good’s family.
Educators held a separate sit-in protest at Minneapolis City Hall Friday, with approximately 60 Twin Cities teachers reading stories in Spanish and playing songs to show support for immigrant communities. Resident physicians at Hennepin County Medical Center and the University of Minnesota held a news conference demanding ICE agents stay out of Minnesota hospitals.
“ICE’s occupation of Minnesota has created unsustainable working conditions for doctors and health care workers alike,” said Avalon, a resident physician in Minneapolis. “Our patients are terrified to come into our clinic and come into our hospitals.”
The demonstrations represented one of the largest shows of civil resistance in Minnesota history, with organizers initially expecting approximately 50,000 participants. Final attendance numbers were not immediately available Friday evening.
The protest remained peaceful throughout the afternoon, with no reports of arrests or unrest during the downtown march and rally.
