Federal agents deployed chemical irritants, commonly known as teargas, to disperse a heated demonstration outside a hotel in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Sunday evening. The protest, which saw some participants vandalise the building, occurred at a location where activists believed US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were staying.
Protest Escalates at University-Area Hotel
According to reports from the Minnesota Daily, protesters gathered at the Home2 Suites by Hilton near the University of Minnesota. The demonstration was reportedly organised in response to the recent killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse at a local Veterans Administration hospital, by US border patrol personnel. Video footage from the scene showed protesters making loud noises outside the hotel and graffiti on windows with messages such as "ICE out," directly referencing the federal immigration agency.
Vandalism and Law Enforcement Response
The New York Post reported that demonstrators attempted to throw objects at people inside the hotel lobby and smash windows. Video evidence also captured two federal officers armed with long guns standing guard outside the hotel entrance as the crowd assembled. One officer was heard asking, "Where's the local PD?" referring to the Minneapolis Police Department.
Ultimately, law enforcement intervened to clear the area using teargas. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) issued a statement explaining that the state patrol and department of natural resources had been called to assist Minneapolis police with damage to hotel property. The DPS noted that while state authorities were working to encircle the group for arrests due to the non-peaceful nature of the demonstration, federal agents arrived without prior communication and deployed the chemical irritants, effectively dispersing the crowd.
Background of Recent ICE-Related Incidents
This protest follows two recent fatal shootings involving federal immigration enforcement personnel in Minneapolis. Alex Pretti was killed by border patrol agents two days prior to the hotel demonstration, with video evidence showing he was unarmed and restrained at the time of the shooting. Trump administration officials have defended the incident.
Additionally, on 7 January, an ICE agent named Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old US citizen, as she attempted to drive away from an encounter with him in Minneapolis.
Political Reactions and Calls for Withdrawal
Tim Walz, the Democratic Governor of Minnesota who served as Kamala Harris's running mate in the 2024 presidential election, has urged the White House to withdraw federal immigration enforcement agents from the city. Agents have been surging in Minneapolis since December, according to reports.
"President Trump, you can end this today," Walz stated on Sunday. "Pull these folks back. Do humane, focused, effective immigration control – you've got the support of all of us to do that. Please show some decency. Pull these folks out."
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety confirmed that state patrol and natural resources personnel were no longer on the scene following the federal agents' intervention. The incident highlights ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement policies and their implementation in American cities.
