US, Jan 17 : Twelve people were arrested during ongoing demonstrations in Minneapolis over recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, authorities confirmed on Friday.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said on X that “12 anti-ICE agitators were arrested for assaulting law enforcement,” as protests continued outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, according to local media reports cited by Xinhua.
The unrest follows a series of ICE related incidents in the state. On January 7, ICE agents fatally shot Renee Good, a 37 year old mother, sparking nationwide protests. The Trump administration claimed Good attempted to run over law enforcement officers, while local authorities said video evidence suggests she did not pose a threat.
On Wednesday, an ICE agent shot a Venezuelan national in the leg after being “ambushed and attacked” during an arrest attempt, according to DHS.
Protests intensified following the second shooting, with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey calling the situation “not sustainable.” DHS reported that ICE agents have conducted over 2,500 arrests in Minnesota in the past five weeks, with around 3,000 federal officers deployed to the state.
US President Donald Trump criticized Minnesota Democrats on Truth Social, saying, “The Governor and Mayor don’t know what to do, they have totally lost control. If, and when, I am forced to act, it will be solved, QUICKLY and EFFECTIVELY!”
Earlier, Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota, calling it a way to “quickly put an end to the travesty” in the state.
The demonstrations, arrests, and federal response highlight growing tensions in Minneapolis as residents protest ICE enforcement actions and their aftermath.