{"id":1404152,"date":"2026-02-04T09:03:57","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T14:03:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thenewsherald.com\/?p=1404152&preview=true&preview_id=1404152"},"modified":"2026-02-04T14:25:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T19:25:00","slug":"immigration-agents-draw-guns-arrest-activists-following-them-in-minneapolis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thenewsherald.com\/2026\/02\/04\/immigration-agents-draw-guns-arrest-activists-following-them-in-minneapolis\/","title":{"rendered":"Immigration agents draw guns, arrest activists following them in Minneapolis"},"content":{"rendered":"

By RYAN MURPHY, SARAH RAZA and STEVE KARNOWSKI The Associated Press<\/p>\n

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) \u2014 Immigration officers with guns drawn arrested activists who were trailing their vehicles on Tuesday in Minneapolis, while education leaders described anxiety and fear in Minnesota schools from the ongoing federal sweeps.<\/p>\n

Both are signs that tension remains in the Minneapolis area after the departure of high-profile commander<\/a> Greg Bovino of U.S. Board Patrol and the arrival of Trump administration border czar Tom Homan, which followed the fatal shooting<\/a> of protester Alex Pretti.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s less smoke on the ground,\u201d Gov. Tim Walz said, referring to tear gas and other irritants used by officers against protesters, \u201cbut I think it\u2019s more chilling than it was last week because of the shift to the schools, the shift to the children.\u201d<\/p>\n

At least one person who had an anti-ICE message on clothing was handcuffed while face-down on the ground. An Associated Press photographer witnessed the arrests.<\/p>\n

ICE agents are changing their tactics<\/h4>\n

Federal agents in the Twin Cities lately have been conducting more targeted immigration arrests at homes and neighborhoods, rather than staging in parking lots. The convoys have been harder to find and less aggressive. Alerts in activist group chats have been more about sightings than immigration-related detainments.<\/p>\n

Several cars followed officers through south Minneapolis after there were reports of them knocking at homes. Officers stopped their vehicles and ordered activists to come out of a car at gunpoint. Agents told reporters at the scene to stay back and threatened to use pepper spray.<\/p>\n\n

A federal judge last month put limits on how officers<\/a> treat motorists who are following them but not obstructing their operations. Safely following agents \u201cat an appropriate distance does not, by itself, create reasonable suspicion to justify a vehicle stop,\u201d the judge said. An appeals court, however, set the order aside.<\/p>\n

Bovino, who was leading immigration enforcement in Minneapolis and other big U.S. cities, left town last week, shortly after Pretti\u2019s death became the second local killing<\/a> of a U.S. citizen in January.<\/p>\n

Homan, who was dispatched to Minnesota to succeed Bovino, has warned that protesters<\/a> could face consequences if they interfere with officers.<\/p>\n

Operation Metro Surge affecting schools<\/h4>\n

Walz and education leaders held a news conference to say the presence of immigration officers is frightening some school communities. Brenda Lewis, superintendent of Fridley Public Schools in suburban Minneapolis, said she\u2019s been followed twice by ICE agents since speaking publicly and that school board members have had ICE vehicles outside their homes for hours.<\/p>\n

\u201cStudents are afraid to come to school, parents are afraid to drop them off,\u201d Lewis, a U.S. citizen, said. \u201cStaff are coming to work wondering if today will be the day something happens in one of our buildings.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said Fridley, which has Somali and Ecuadorian families, has added security and trained observers, adjusted drop-off procedures and increased mental health support. Tracy Xiong, a social worker in the Columbia Heights district, said she\u2019s been coordinating grocery deliveries to school families and finding volunteers to drive children.<\/p>\n

There was no immediate response to a request for comment from the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement about the arrests in south Minneapolis and the concerns of educators.<\/p>\n

Grand jury seeks communications, records<\/h4>\n

Meanwhile, Tuesday was the deadline for Minneapolis to produce information for a federal grand jury. It\u2019s part of a U.S. Justice Department request for records of any effort to stifle the Trump administration\u2019s immigration crackdown. Officials have denounced it as a bullying tactic.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide, but when the federal government weaponizes the criminal justice system against political opponents, it\u2019s important to stand up and fight back,\u201d said Ally Peters, spokesperson for Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat.<\/p>\n