A small business owner in the Twin Cities has made startling allegations that their toy shop was subjected to an audit by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shortly after one of its proprietors publicly criticised former President Donald Trump's immigration policies on national television. Dan Marshall, co-owner of Mischief Toy Store, reported that two agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personally delivered the audit notice, demanding federal employment forms and payroll records.
Timing Raises Suspicions of Retaliation
The audit notice arrived just hours after Marshall's daughter, Abigail Adelsheim-Marshall, appeared on ABC News. During her interview, she spoke out against the administration's intensified immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis, describing ICE as "terrorising" the local community. Adelsheim-Marshall also discussed the store's initiative to distribute free whistles to residents, intended as a warning system against approaching DHS agents.
Details of the Audit Request
According to Marshall, the audit request seemed unusually targeted, given the store's modest scale. Mischief Toy Store employs only five part-time workers, all of whom are local residents, raising questions about the necessity and timing of such federal scrutiny. This incident has sparked concerns about potential retaliation against businesses that voice political dissent.
Broader Context of Investigations and Lawsuits
This event occurs against a backdrop of wider investigations and legal challenges targeting the administration's operations in Minnesota. State officials have accused the federal government of "weaponising" the justice system to intimidate critics and enforce controversial immigration policies. The toy shop's case adds to a growing list of allegations where businesses and individuals face unexpected audits or legal actions after opposing government measures.
Community and Political Reactions
Local authorities in the Twin Cities have expressed alarm over what they perceive as a pattern of ICE targeting off-duty police officers and other community members. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between state and federal levels regarding immigration enforcement strategies. As debates continue, this incident underscores the fragile balance between free speech and governmental oversight in politically charged environments.
Owners of Mischief Toy Store maintain that their criticism was a legitimate exercise of free expression, and they are now navigating the audit process while advocating for transparency and accountability in federal actions. The outcome of this case could have implications for other small businesses across the United States facing similar pressures.
