Employees at Target stores across Minnesota are reportedly skipping their shifts due to mounting fears that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents could appear and detain them. This wave of absenteeism follows a distressing incident where two Target workers, both confirmed to be legal US citizens, were detained by ICE while on duty at a store in Richfield, Minnesota.
A Traumatic Incident Sparks Widespread Alarm
According to reports, the altercation was captured on video, showing ICE agents scrambling on the ground with the two employees at the entrance of the Richfield Target. One of the detained workers was allegedly just 17 years old. Despite both individuals insisting they were US citizens during the encounter, ICE proceeded with the detention.
Shockingly, after confirming one employee was indeed a lawful resident, agents reportedly abandoned him in a Walmart parking lot. Bystanders found him sobbing, bleeding, and screaming that he had been slammed to the ground during the incident.
Workforce Paralysis and Management Response
Now, sources familiar with the situation indicate that other Target staff members across multiple Minnesota locations are calling out of work to avoid potentially facing a similar traumatic fate. Terrified workers have directly informed store managers that they are too afraid to report for their shifts.
In a memo addressing the escalating situation, Target's chief human resources officer Melissa Kremer stated: 'While we can't control everything happening around us, we are focused on what we can control. We're listening and working to de-escalate where possible - while staying clear on what we need to safely operate our business and care for our team.'
Notably, Target, which serves as Minnesota's fourth-largest employer, has not released any public comment specifically addressing the ICE detention of its two workers in Richfield. The company has also remained silent regarding the increased presence of federal agents in the Twin Cities area and recent fatal shootings involving ICE agents in Minneapolis.
Broader Context of Corporate and Community Unrest
This employee safety crisis arrives at an exceptionally challenging moment for the retail giant. Target now risks alienating both customers and staff members regardless of its positioning on highly charged issues like immigration enforcement and policing.
The retailer is still navigating the fallout from its decision to significantly scale back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. This strategic shift involved ending specific racial equity initiatives, with the company citing an evolving landscape and a need to align with broader corporate trends.
Target announced it would revise its 'Belonging at the Bullseye' strategy, which included scrapping a program launched after George Floyd's 2020 killing. That initiative had aimed to support Black employees' career advancement, enhance the shopping experience for Black customers, and promote Black-owned businesses.
Escalating Protests and Community Action
The current upheaval follows previous controversies, including the storm of protests over Pride Month merchandise and subsequent backlash when the company pulled some of those products from shelves. Now, the ICE detentions have ignited fresh demonstrations.
Demonstrators affiliated with groups like Unidos MN have staged sit-in protests at Target stores, denouncing what they describe as complicity in allowing ICE agents to operate on store premises. In Saint Paul, a small crowd of protesters sang during a sit-in, directly linking their action to the recent incidents.
On a recent Friday, hundreds of Minnesota businesses closed their doors while thousands of protesters braved frigid conditions to demonstrate against the ongoing immigration crackdown in the state. Organizers encouraged residents to skip work or school and refrain from shopping as a show of opposition to the ICE operation, which was ordered during the Trump administration and has continued for over six weeks.
As the situation develops, Target faces mounting pressure to address employee safety concerns while managing its public response to immigration enforcement actions affecting its workforce. The company's silence on specific incidents has only intensified scrutiny from both employees and community activists.
