Minneapolis, MN — Federal agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement were confronted in north Minneapolis and the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood on Tuesday after locals learned operations were taking place. The two incidents were among many continuous flashpoints and run-ins between residents, community members and federal agents in recent days.
Live streamed video by independent journalist Louie Tran from ICE actions in Cedar-Riverside shows residents confronting a number of unmarked cars in the parking lot of an apartment complex before ICE agents try to drive away amid heavy snow. The vehicles got stuck in traffic and were soon confronted again by people on the street.
One agent on foot began using pepper spray against protesters …
Minneapolis, MN — Federal agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement were confronted in north Minneapolis and the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood on Tuesday after locals learned operations were taking place. The two incidents were among many continuous flashpoints and run-ins between residents, community members and federal agents in recent days.
Live streamed video by independent journalist Louie Tran from ICE actions in Cedar-Riverside shows residents confronting a number of unmarked cars in the parking lot of an apartment complex before ICE agents try to drive away amid heavy snow. The vehicles got stuck in traffic and were soon confronted again by people on the street.
One agent on foot began using pepper spray against protesters as they tried to clear traffic and continue driving away.
Agents cleared traffic and protesters after several minutes, clearing the way to exit. An unmarked car bumped into at least one protester as agents fled.
One person was reportedly detained during the operation, according to sources present during the raid, though Unicorn Riot could not confirm how many, if any, people were detained.
Earlier on Tuesday morning, locals confronted ICE agents in a similar fashion on N. 21st Ave. and N. Oliver Ave., detaining at least one observer and reportedly two other people.
Residents gathered, blowing whistles and calling attention to the early morning activity while ICE agents participated in actions while heavily armed and carrying mace.
The pre-dawn raid captured on video shows a handful of agents, also in unmarked cars, detaining Susan Tincher, a white 55-year-old American, who was observing agents. Tincher was later released around noon from the Whipple Federal Building in Fort Snelling. Her husband was unable to locate her whereabouts until she was released.
As the administration targets Somali and other migrant communities in the area with their Operation Metro Surge, federal activity has increased in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. But as the Department of Homeland Security bears down on the area, community members have ramped up their response.
ICE Targets Somali Community in Minneapolis*** – Dec. 9, 2025***
In recent weeks, people in the Twin Cities have mobilized against Trump’s immigration agents through a network of rapid responders. Organizers monitor ICE activity and alert volunteers and concerned community members when a raid or other activity is underway.
On Monday, Augsburg University faculty and students confronted ICE agents after they entered the school and detained an undergraduate student. ICE agents pointed weapons at the community, which prompted multiple 911 calls of armed men on campus, and left with the student.
Last week, ICE agents were thwarted in their attempt to detain employees of the Hola Arepa restaurant in Minneapolis. An employee didn’t allow them into the back of the establishment and alerted the owners who quickly came, closed the store early and ushered their employees out to safety.
Responding to the disobedience and demands for transparency that they face during their operations, ICE agents have in turn arrested and brutalized observers while escalating their threats against residents across the metro area.
A recent video posted to Facebook shows ICE agents surrounding a man in his car, aiming weapons at him and threatening to arrest for “impeding” their actions in Richfield, a suburb of Minneapolis.
Around 10 a.m. on Dec. 8, a person in a vehicle was “boxed in by ICE” vehicles at Fry and Taylor streets in Saint Paul and an agent who was driving a large gray colored Dodge Ram came to the window and told the person recording, “Im going to dedicate my next arrest to ya.”
A video recorded by an observer at 36th St. and Pleasant Ave. in south Minneapolis on Dec. 9 shows an ICE agent with an Enforcement and Removal Operations vest playfully trying to take a picture of the face of the person recording.
In another video posted on Dec. 9, ICE agents arrested a Somali-American near the U.S. Bank Stadium, and let him go as elders continued to stand up for him and him being able to prove his citizenship. After the man was released from the backseat and taken out of handcuffs he yelled, “They f*cked with the wrong guy man … I’mma get my lawyers on you motherf*ckers.”
Over the weekend on Saturday, Dec. 6, ICE agents abducted a Somali father from his vehicle as he drove his kids home. The children were reportedly left in the car until Richfield Police could show up and take custody of them.
Also on Dec. 6, a video recording showed masked ICE agents violently raiding a Burnsville home, leaving a 7-year-old boy without his parents after detaining several people from different families. The incident occurred after following a couple home from grocery shopping. ICE agents attempted to arrest the couple after they pulled into their driveway. They jumped on the driver, a male, but his partner was able to escape into the house. ICE agents then raided the house, breaking down doors.
Today, students in Burnsville walked out of classes to protest the violent ICE raids. A video posted this afternoon to social media shows hundreds of youth chanting “No more ICE” as they walk out of Burnsville High School.
Additionally, noise demos have been held outside of the Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington at 3900 American Blvd. W., where ICE agents are said to have been staying.
ICE actions continue across the metro — videos are being posted across social media continuously, from observers, media, and ICE themselves. The government claims at least 19 people have been detained in press releases (Dec. 4, Dec. 5) while showing over 90 people from Minnesota on DHS’s new website featuring mugshots of “criminal aliens arrested by” ICE.
Cover image features screenshots from M. Nelson and Louie Tran’s Facebook videos.
Documenting Deportation Flights at MSP Airport – Dec. 4, 2025
As ICE activity has intensified this year, local groups such as MIRAC and Monarca have been hosting know-your-rights trainings. A nonviolent direct action training happened on December 7. A number of liberal groups have been involved in trainings, including Gender Justice, theImmigrant Defense Network,Indivisible Twin Cities,Jewish Community Action,Minnesota 50501,MN AFL-CIO, theMN Democracy Defense Table, theMinnesota State Retiree Council (AFL-CIO), theSaint Paul Regional Labor Federation (AFL-CIO),TakeAction Minnesota, andWomen’s March MN.
The Minnesota Education Equity Partnership has released a toolkit for “Creating Safe & Supportive Schools for Immigrant & English Learner (EL) Students,” which includes information about immigration enforcement.
MSP Whistles (bsky / linktree) is distributing large numbers of whistles to alert people to ICE activity. A large resource document called “MN Community Response Resources” has been released on Proton Drive and at bit.ly/mnresponse. Resource sheets in Somali, Spanish and English have also been posted.
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**Published December 9, 2025