BREAKING: Federal immigration officials in Minneapolis reported a troubling escalation in anti-ICE protests on January 23, 2026, as demonstrators arrived at the ICE field office with a U-Haul truck loaded with riot shields and tactical gear in an apparent attempt to block agents from leaving the federal building. According to senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement sources, protesters attempted to create a physical barricade around the Whipple Federal Building to impede officers from conducting ongoing deportation operations and fulfilling their mission to protect American communities.

ICE Field Office Director Scott S. Brown confirmed that the agency’s Enforcement and Removal Operations personnel were temporarily hindered by the crowd but remained resolute in carrying out their duties. ICE leadership characterized the demonstration as part of a broader surge of coordinated protests that have erupted in Minnesota following a fatal encounter between an ICE officer and a local resident earlier in the month.

The protests stem from heightened tensions surrounding federal immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, particularly in Minneapolis and surrounding areas. Clashes and demonstrations intensified after the January 7 fatal shooting of Renée Good by an ICE agent, an incident that drew widespread attention and mobilized demonstrators opposed to the enforcement surge. Thousands of activists have taken to the streets in sub-zero temperatures in successive rallies and coordinated actions statewide.

ICE officials emphasized that despite aggressive attempts by protesters to hinder movement and operations, agents continued their mission to enforce federal immigration laws, remove criminal illegal aliens from U.S. communities, and uphold public safety. ICE spokespeople reaffirmed that lawful enforcement actions must proceed without interference, and that attempts to obstruct federal officers—whether through physical barricades or intimidation tactics—pose serious risks to public order and the rule of law.

The confrontation at the Minneapolis ICE facility underscores broader national debates over immigration policy enforcement and public reaction to federal operations. As protests persist and political rhetoric intensifies, federal authorities maintain that robust immigration enforcement remains critical to national security and community protection.