Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Federal judge summons ICE acting head Todd Lyons to court for alleged defiance of court orders — Minnesota's top federal judge summoned Todd Lyons, the acting head of ICE, to appear in court on Friday for allegedly defying court orders. The judge stated "The court's patience is at an end," signaling potential contempt of court proceedings against the ICE leader for failing to comply with judicial directives.
• Minnesota federal judge summons ICE acting director for contempt over defiance of court orders — Chief US District Judge Patrick Schiltz issued a three-page order summoning acting ICE director Todd Lyons to appear before him on Friday, warning of potential contempt charges. Schiltz accused the Trump administration of deliberately delaying or ignoring judicial directives across Minnesota's federal courts during "Operation Metro Surge," an aggressive immigration enforcement campaign. The judge cited a specific case in which he had ordered a man released on January 15 who remained in custody as of Monday night, and noted that detained immigrants had been sent to Texas or released far from home without means to return, causing "significant hardship."
• Multiple Minnesota federal judges weigh legal challenges to Operation Metro Surge immigration enforcement — Several Minnesota federal judges are considering broader legal challenges that could significantly restrict federal immigration enforcement in the state or halt Operation Metro Surge entirely. US District Judge Michael Davis accused the administration of attempting to "defy court orders" and "deny noncitizens their due process rights." Judge Kate Menendez ordered government lawyers to respond by Wednesday evening to claims the operation was designed to punish Minnesota for its sanctuary policies. Another federal judge is weighing whether the deployment of 3,000 immigration agents constitutes an unconstitutional occupation, a case that gained momentum following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal officers.
• Federal judge orders ICE director to appear in court and threatens contempt — Minnesota's chief federal judge, U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz (appointed by President Bush), ordered the head of ICE, Todd Lyons, to appear in his courtroom on Friday and threatened to hold him in contempt for repeated defiance of judges' orders in the state. Judge Schiltz stated "The court's patience is at an end." The order came in response to the Trump administration's massive immigration enforcement action in the Twin Cities, which has flooded courts with emergency lawsuits. Schiltz noted that the administration has been slow-walking or outright defying directives of many Minnesota judges, including at least one of his own orders for release that was not complied with.
• Federal judge orders ICE director to appear in court for contempt of court — Judge Patrick J. Schiltz of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota ordered Todd Lyons, the acting director of ICE, to appear in court on Friday to explain why he was not in contempt of court after ICE officials apparently ignored Schiltz's order to permit a detainee to have a bond hearing or be released. On Tuesday, the government released the detainee. On Wednesday, Schiltz canceled the Friday hearing but identified "96 court orders that ICE has violated in 74 cases" and warned that he would haul Lyons or other government officials into court if they continued ignoring court rulings.
• Minnesota federal judge issues scathing order documenting 96 ICE court order violations — Minnesota's Chief Federal Judge Schiltz issued an order that included an appendix identifying 96 court orders that ICE has violated in 74 cases. The judge stated: "This list should give pause to anyone—no matter his or her political beliefs—who cares about the rule of law. ICE has likely violated more court orders in Jan 2026 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence."

Supporting reports

• Trump agrees to reduce federal agents in Minnesota and coordinate with state on immigration enforcement — Following calls with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Trump agreed to review the federal immigration surge in the state. Walz's office stated Trump "agreed to look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota and working with the state in a more coordinated fashion on immigration enforcement regarding violent criminals." Mayor Frey reported that Trump agreed "the present situation cannot continue" and that some federal agents would begin leaving the area.
• Trump signals potential withdrawal of ICE agents from Minnesota following governor negotiations — Following negotiations between President Trump and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the White House indicated potential de-escalation of federal immigration enforcement in the state. Walz's office confirmed that Trump "agreed to look into" reducing the number of federal ICE agents in Minnesota. Leavitt described the conversation as "constructive and productive," marking a reversal from the administration's aggressive immigration enforcement posture that had drawn criticism from Republican lawmakers and public opinion.
• Mayor Frey stated Operation Metro Surge must end — Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey responded to Trump's post with a statement clarifying his position. Frey stated he expressed to Trump how much Minneapolis has benefited from immigrant communities and made clear his main request is that Operation Metro Surge must end. Frey stated the president agreed "the present situation cannot continue." Frey said some federal agents will begin leaving tomorrow and he will continue pushing for the rest to leave. Frey stated Minneapolis will not participate in unconstitutional arrests or enforce federal immigration law, but will cooperate on real criminal investigations.
• Trump issues executive order preempting state and local permitting for Los Angeles wildfire reconstruction — President Trump issued an executive order on January 27, 2026, directing federal agencies (FEMA and SBA) to preempt state and local permitting requirements that obstruct federally funded wildfire reconstruction in Los Angeles. The order authorizes agencies to replace state/local permitting with federal self-certification by builders, expedite environmental and historic preservation reviews, and audit California's use of prior hazard-mitigation funding. The order frames state and local governments as having failed in disaster response and reconstruction.
• White House issues fact sheet promoting executive order on Los Angeles wildfire reconstruction — The White House published a fact sheet on January 27, 2026, promoting an executive order signed by President Trump that directs FEMA and the SBA to issue regulations preempting state and local permitting requirements for wildfire reconstruction in Los Angeles. The order directs agencies to expedite federal environmental and historic preservation waivers, orders FEMA to audit California's unspent disaster mitigation funds, and directs development of legislative proposals to override state and local obstruction of recovery. The fact sheet characterizes state and local permitting as "failures" and "obstruction."
• Trump administration reviews Alex Pretti shooting and scales back ICE presence in Minneapolis — Federal agents fatally shot Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse, in Minneapolis. Following widespread outrage and bipartisan calls for investigation, Trump announced a review of the shooting and agreed to scale back federal immigration enforcement presence in the city. Mayor Jacob Frey reported Trump agreed the current deployment "cannot continue," and federal agents began leaving Minneapolis on Tuesday. A federal judge heard arguments on whether to end the officer surge, with a ruling pending.

Supporting reports

• US District Judge Kate Menendez heard lawsuit challenging federal immigration surge in Minnesota — US District Judge Kate Menendez heard a lawsuit seeking to halt the federal immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota, with lawyers for the state arguing that the operation violates the 10th Amendment by coercing state compliance with federal demands. The judge repeatedly cited Trump's social media threats of "a day of reckoning and retribution" against Minnesota and Attorney General Pam Bondi's letter to Governor Walz (described by state lawyers as a "shakedown" and "ransom note") as evidence that the operation may be intended to strongarm state officials rather than solely enforce immigration law. The judge declined to rule immediately.
• Federal judge hears arguments on ending ICE surge in Minneapolis — A federal judge heard arguments on Monday regarding whether to end the federal officer surge in Minneapolis known as Operation Metro Surge. No ruling was expected imminently. The hearing follows the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti and represents judicial review of the legality and scope of the federal immigration enforcement deployment.
• Minneapolis federal court hears constitutional challenge to Trump's "Operation Metro Surge" ICE deployment — A federal court in Minneapolis heard arguments on whether the Trump administration's deployment of 3,000 ICE agents to Minnesota violates the 10th Amendment by functioning as an illegal occupation of the state. Judge Kate Menendez ordered the Trump administration to respond to claims that Operation Metro Surge was designed to punish sanctuary jurisdictions. The case was filed after a fatal shooting of a Minneapolis nurse by federal agents and involves allegations that the surge uses coercion and racial profiling to force policy changes unrelated to immigration enforcement.
• Federal judge denies Minnesota's request to halt ICE Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis — Minnesota's state government, along with Minneapolis and St Paul, sued to end the Trump administration's Operation Metro Surge after ICE agents killed two people—Renee Good and Alex Pretti—sparking weeks of protests. The plaintiffs argued the operation violated the 10th Amendment by exceeding federal authority. On Saturday, federal judge Kate Menendez denied the request, ruling the state failed to demonstrate a constitutional violation, though she acknowledged the operation's "profound and heartbreaking" impact and evidence of racial profiling and excessive force by ICE and CBP agents.

Supporting reports

• Federal agents deploy chemical irritants and arrest protesters at scene of fatal shooting — Following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, federal agents deployed chemical irritants (teargas) into the air and at crowds of people gathered at the scene in sub-zero conditions. Agents arrested multiple individuals during the dispersal. Observers reported agents were increasingly hostile and violent toward citizen monitors documenting ICE enforcement activity, including pulling them from cars and subjecting them to chemical irritants.
• Federal agents deploy teargas on protesters at Minneapolis hotel — On January 25, 2026, federal agents used chemical irritants (teargas) to disperse protesters gathered outside a Minneapolis hotel where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were believed to be staying. The demonstration followed the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, by US Border Patrol personnel. State patrol and Department of Natural Resources officers had been coordinating arrests when federal agents arrived without communication and deployed the chemical irritant, clearing the crowd. The incident occurred amid ongoing Trump administration mass deportation operations in Minneapolis.

Supporting reports

• Trump attended private screening of Melania Trump documentary funded by Amazon — President Trump attended a black-tie private screening at the White House of a documentary about First Lady Melania Trump. Amazon paid $40 million for the rights to the film shortly after Amazon executive chair Jeff Bezos dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago following Trump's 2024 reelection, and is spending an additional $35 million to promote the film.
• Amazon CEO attended White House screening while company profits from ICE surveillance infrastructure — Amazon CEO Andy Jassy attended a White House screening of "Melania," a documentary produced by First Lady Melania Trump, on the same day federal officers killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Amazon paid $59 million for rights to the film and is spending an additional $35 million on promotion. The article notes that while the film will likely lose tens of millions of dollars, Amazon maintains the investment to stay in good standing with the Trump administration. Amazon Web Services hosts the Investigative Case Management database that ICE uses to target and deport immigrants, and also hosts the Department of Homeland Security's $6 billion Homeland Advanced Recognition Technology System biometric surveillance database.
• Film industry figures question Amazon's Melania film spending — Ted Hope, who started the film division at Amazon, questioned whether Amazon's spending on the Melania documentary could be equated with "currying favor or an outright bribe," noting that the $35 million marketing budget is 10 times what some other high-profile documentaries have received. Director Julie Cohen stated she would not want to work with Amazon in the future due to concerns about the amount paid for the film, saying "I think that would suggest that Amazon is buying something else for their money. That's a big problem."
• Melania Trump promotes film with $40 million Amazon deal — Amazon paid Trump's production company $40 million for the rights to the documentary "Melania," approximately $26 million more than the next closest bidder, Disney. The film, directed by Brett Ratner (who has not made a movie since 2017 when multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct), is receiving a $35 million marketing campaign including TV commercials during NFL playoff games and a premiere simulcast in 25 theaters. The film will be released in 3,300 theaters worldwide starting Friday, with a related docuseries scheduled to air later in the year.

Supporting reports

• ICE deployment and enforcement operations in Minneapolis schools and neighborhoods — The Trump administration deployed approximately 3,000 federal ICE agents across the Minneapolis region, conducting arrests at school bus stops, commutes, grocery stores, and churches. Multiple students were detained, including preschooler Liam Ramos. ICE agents used chemical irritants outside a high school during dismissal, leading schools to cancel classes and shift to hybrid remote/in-person learning. The operations have caused widespread trauma among students, with documented panic attacks, sleep disturbances, and behavioral changes, while teachers report being forced to teach safety protocols instead of standard curriculum.
• ICE detention of preschooler Liam Ramos — ICE agents detained preschooler Liam Ramos and his father when they returned home from school, then transported them to a detention center in Texas. Ramos was one of four students detained in the school district in recent weeks. A photograph of him in his winter hat during detention became a symbol of the operation's indiscriminate nature.

Supporting reports

• ICE use of chemical irritants at Minneapolis high school — ICE agents deployed chemical irritants outside a Minneapolis high school during student dismissal time and detained a staff member. The school district immediately cancelled classes in response and subsequently reopened with a virtual learning option for students too fearful to attend in person.
• Minnesota educators voice concerns over ICE raids' impact on schools — School superintendents, teachers, and parents spoke at the Minnesota state capitol on Tuesday, expressing concerns that ICE raids have fundamentally altered school environments and made students, teachers, and parents less safe. An elementary teacher reported unprecedented absenteeism since the COVID-19 pandemic, with students afraid to attend school. The Columbia Heights school board chair noted that families remain displaced and called for community support to bring children home and restore community wholeness.

Supporting reports

• Minnesota organizes statewide strike and economic blackout — In response to intensified ICE enforcement operations in the Twin Cities, Minnesota residents organized a statewide strike and economic blackout planned for Friday, January 24, 2026. The action includes planned business closures, calls to avoid work and school, and a march and rally. The source characterizes this as escalation from outrage to organized economic disruption.
• Minneapolis march demands ICE leave the city — On Friday, January 24, 2026 (the date of the article), thousands of protesters marched through downtown Minneapolis demanding that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents leave the city. The march was part of a broader "economic blackout" in Minneapolis and coincided with targeted protests at Target's headquarters and stores.
• Minneapolis residents conduct economic blackout and protest march against ICE operations — Tens of thousands of Minneapolis residents participated in an economic blackout and protest march on January 24, 2026, calling for an end to ICE occupation of the city and demanding justice for Renee Good, who was killed by a federal agent on January 7. The action preceded the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti the following day and reflected widespread community opposition to federal immigration enforcement operations in the city.
• Tens of thousands of Minnesotans participate in economic blackout and mass protest against ICE surge — Tens of thousands of Minnesotans participated in a coordinated "Day of Truth & Freedom" economic blackout on January 24, 2026, protesting an ICE surge in the state. The action included a general strike with business closures, school closures, and a major march in Minneapolis. About 100 clergy members were arrested during airport protests. Organizers demanded ICE leave Minnesota, investigation of the agency for constitutional violations, and accountability for the killing of Renee Good by a federal immigration officer. The Minneapolis city council endorsed the action.
• Protests Against Federal Occupation in Minnesota — Tens of thousands of Minnesotans protested in Minneapolis and St. Paul against the presence of federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The protest occurred in extremely cold temperatures, with demonstrators expressing their opposition to what they described as an assault on civil liberties and constitutional rights, particularly targeting immigrant communities. The protest highlighted concerns over the government's actions and policies perceived as undermining democratic principles.
• Over 700 Minnesota businesses close in solidarity strike against ICE — On January 24, 2026 (Friday), over 700 businesses throughout Minnesota participated in a strike and closed their doors in solidarity with protesters opposing ICE's "Operation Metro Surge." Restaurants and stores across Minneapolis posted signs condemning ICE and expressing solidarity with the movement. Some businesses offered protesters free food, coffee, and shelter. Business owners stated the action was necessary despite loss of revenue, with one owner saying "There's a time to stand up for things, and this is it."

Supporting reports

• Rep. Maxwell Frost punched in face at Sundance film festival — Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida was punched in the face on Friday at the Sundance film festival in Utah by a man who stated that Trump would deport him. The incident represents the second physical attack on a lawmaker of color within a week and underscores a pattern of political violence linked to anti-immigrant and xenophobic rhetoric.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge orders release of three activists arrested at anti-ICE church protest in St Paul — Nekima Levy Armstrong, Chauntyll Allen, and William Kelly were arrested during an anti-ICE demonstration that disrupted Sunday church services in St Paul, Minnesota. A federal judge ordered their release on Friday, ruling the government failed to meet its burden for detention. The ruling came after the White House posted a digitally altered image of Armstrong's arrest on social media, falsifying her appearance to portray her as crying and darkening her skin, which was later exposed by news outlets.

Supporting reports

• Attorney General Pam Bondi demands Minnesota surrender voter rolls, social program records, and policy changes — On January 24, 2026, Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Governor Tim Walz demanding that Minnesota turn over voter rolls for federal inspection, provide records on social programs including Medicaid and food assistance for federal investigation, and end policies preventing local coordination with immigration enforcement. State officials characterized the letter as a "ransom note" and an attempt at coercion and extortion designed to force compliance with federal immigration enforcement priorities.
• Attorney General Bondi tied voter roll access to federal violence in Minnesota — Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz suggesting he could "bring back law and order to Minnesota" if he handed over the state's voter rolls to the Department of Justice. Bondi explicitly tied the administration's violence in the state to its determination to obtain voters' personal data before the 2026 election. Minnesota has voted for the Democratic candidate in the past three presidential elections, but Trump insists he won the state each time.
• Pam Bondi demands Minnesota voter rolls, public assistance data, and sanctuary policy repeal — US Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz demanding access to the state's voter rolls, public assistance recipient data, and repeal of sanctuary city policies. The demand was framed as part of immigration enforcement but included no evidence of non-citizen voter fraud in Minnesota. State election officials and legal experts characterized the request as coercive and pretextual, noting it violates state and federal law protecting voter privacy and has no connection to immigration enforcement.
• Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Minnesota officials conditioning ICE's withdrawal on the state turning over its voter database to the Trump administration. — Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Minnesota officials stating that ICE would leave the state if Minnesota allowed the Civil Rights Division of DOJ to "access voter rolls to confirm that MN's voter registration practices comply with federal law." The letter framed this as a "common sense request" to "better guarantee free and fair elections and boost confidence in the rule of law." Senator Chris Murphy characterized this as evidence that "the Trump admin is creating this mayhem, particularly in cities in swing states, in order to take control of elections" and stated "They are trying to trade the presence of ICE and the murder and mayhem they are causing for control of Minnesota's elections."
• Attorney General Pam Bondi demands Minnesota enforce immigration law and produce welfare and voter roll data — US Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Governor Walz on January 26, 2026, accusing Minnesota officials of refusing to enforce the rule of law and demanding they support ICE operations. Bondi pressed Walz to produce information about the state's welfare programs and voter rolls, citing unsubstantiated federal claims that Democratic lawmakers allowed these systems to be manipulated or subject to welfare fraud. Bondi framed compliance as necessary to "bring back law and order to Minnesota."
• Attorney General Bondi requested voter rolls from Minnesota — Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Governor Tim Walz on Saturday, shortly after Pretti's killing, suggesting that Walz could "restore the rule of law" in Minnesota by handing over the state's voter rolls. The request was framed as unrelated to voter files but appeared to be connected to Trump's claims that the election was rigged.
• Attorney General Bondi letter linking ICE surge to demands for voter data, welfare records, and sanctuary policy repeal — Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a letter explicitly conditioning the end of Operation Metro Surge on three unrelated demands: access to voter registration records, welfare program data, and repeal of sanctuary policies. Minnesota's lawyers characterize this as an extortion attempt and argue it demonstrates the Trump administration is using armed federal presence to coerce policy changes rather than conduct legitimate immigration enforcement, violating the 10th Amendment and constitutional structure.

Supporting reports

• Fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis — Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, was shot and killed on Saturday, January 24, 2026, in Minneapolis. According to witness accounts, Pretti was shot after rushing to protect a woman who was being pepper-sprayed by Border Patrol agents. Video evidence shows a federal officer retrieving Pretti's firearm while another officer drew his weapon before the fatal shooting occurred.
• Federal agents shoot and kill Alex Pretti in Minneapolis during immigration enforcement operation — Federal immigration agents under the Trump administration shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, in Minneapolis on January 24 during an enforcement operation. The killing was the second fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis within weeks and intensified public anger over the administration's immigration enforcement tactics and the use of lethal force.
• Federal agents shoot and kill VA nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis — Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials shot and killed Alex Pretti, a VA nurse, in Minneapolis. Trump administration officials, including Stephen Miller and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, subsequently labeled Pretti a "domestic terrorist." VA Secretary Collins blamed the death on state and local officials' "refusal to cooperate with the federal government." The killing followed another shooting of a U.S. citizen, Renee Nicole Good, by an ICE official in Minneapolis earlier that month.
• Border Patrol agents fatally shoot ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis — Border Patrol agents fired at least 10 shots at 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on January 24, killing him. Pretti had been recording the agents with his phone after they pepper-sprayed and tackled him to the ground. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller falsely labeled Pretti a "domestic terrorist" and claimed he was holding a gun and attempting to assassinate law enforcement. A Trump-appointed federal judge issued a late-night order directing the administration not to destroy or alter evidence in the case.
• Federal agents killed Alex Pretti, 37-year-old ICU nurse, during immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. — Federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA, on a Minneapolis street during an immigration enforcement operation. Video evidence from ABC News shows Pretti recording federal agents with his phone before being pepper-sprayed, pushed into the street, and shot approximately 10 times in under five seconds. A doctor's affidavit cited by ABC describes multiple gunshot wounds including at least three in Pretti's back. An officer was heard saying "I got the gun" after the shooting. The incident occurred the morning after Minnesota's Friday economic blackout protest. Pretti's family disputes official accounts, describing them as "sickening lies."
• Federal agents shot and killed Alex Jeffrey Pretti in Minneapolis — Federal agents, identified as ICE/Border Patrol officers, tackled, pepper-sprayed, and shot Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital, on a Minneapolis street. Video evidence shows Pretti holding a phone, not a gun, and attempting to help another person who had been pushed down by agents. After agents removed a gun from Pretti's waistband, they shot him multiple times, killing him. Federal agents then blocked state investigators, including the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, from accessing the scene despite a search warrant.
• Fatal shooting of Minneapolis nurse by federal ICE agents during immigration operation — Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis nurse and U.S. citizen, was killed by federal agents on Saturday, January 25, 2026, while apparently filming an immigration enforcement operation. Videos verified by The Guardian contradict portions of the Department of Homeland Security's account of the incident. This marks the third shooting involving federal agents in January 2026 and prompted state and city lawyers to urge the court to halt Operation Metro Surge before additional deaths occur.
• Federal agent fatally shoots civilian Alex Pretti in Minneapolis — A 37-year-old nurse, Alex Pretti, was shot and killed by a federal Customs and Border Protection agent during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. Democratic lawmakers, including Ilhan Omar, Elizabeth Warren, and Kamala Harris, condemned the shooting as an execution and called for accountability. Republicans, led by President Trump and Homeland Security Adviser Stephen Miller, blamed Democratic officials for creating a lawless environment that prevented local police cooperation with federal agents.
• Federal agents fatally shoot 37-year-old US citizen Alex Pretti in Minneapolis — Federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old US citizen and Virginia nurse, at approximately 9 a.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2026, in the Eat Street area of Minneapolis. The killing occurred in front of witnesses who videotaped the incident. It is the second fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis in less than three weeks, following the January 7 death of Renee Good. Federal agents subsequently deployed chemical irritants to disperse crowds and made arrests at the scene. Governor Tim Walz stated the killing contradicted calls for peace.
• Federal agents fatally shoot 37-year-old US citizen Alex Pretti in Minneapolis during immigration enforcement operation — Federal law enforcement officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, a Minneapolis nurse and US citizen with no criminal record and a valid firearm permit, during a protest against the Trump administration's immigration enforcement. Video evidence shows Pretti holding a phone and attempting to shield a woman being pepper-sprayed; federal officials falsely claimed he was armed with a 9mm handgun and posed a threat to officers. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino contradicted video evidence in their public statements. A Minnesota judge ordered preservation of evidence after state officials alleged DHS was blocking local investigation access.
• Federal agents fatally shoot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis; nationwide protests erupt — Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old registered nurse and US citizen employed at Minneapolis VA Health Care System, was shot dead by federal agents during an encounter in Minneapolis. Video evidence shows Pretti being wrestled to the ground and sprayed with chemical agents before being shot multiple times. The DHS and Secretary Kristi Noem claimed Pretti "approached" officers with a 9mm handgun, contradicting available video footage. Large protests spread across US cities including Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco, Boston, Providence, Los Angeles, and Washington DC on the following day, with demonstrators calling for ICE abolishment and justice.
• Federal agents kill Minneapolis VA nurse Alex Pretti during ICE enforcement action — Alex Pretti, 37, a registered nurse at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, was shot and killed by federal agents on Saturday during an immigration enforcement operation. Video evidence shows Pretti holding a phone, with an empty raised hand, appearing to defend a legal observer being pushed down by officers. Multiple agents surrounded him on the ground before firing multiple shots at close range. His family disputes the administration's account that he threatened officers with a gun. Police confirmed his only prior law enforcement contact was for traffic tickets and that he was a lawful gun owner.
• Federal agents shoot and kill Alex Pretti, a nurse, during ICE enforcement operation in Minneapolis — Alex Pretti, a healthcare worker, was fatally shot by federal agents during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis on or around January 25, 2026. The shooting occurred amid weeks of intensified federal immigration enforcement in the area. Following the killing, federal agents deployed teargas and projectiles against demonstrators and bystanders who gathered at the scene, injuring multiple people including children and community members seeking to help the injured.
• Federal immigration agents fatally shoot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis — On January 25, 2026, federal immigration officers shot and killed 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis during an enforcement operation. Video evidence shows agents removed Pretti's legally carried handgun before shooting him. The incident sparked immediate calls for investigation from former presidents Obama and Clinton, Democratic lawmakers, and Republican Senator Bill Cassidy. A federal judge issued an order blocking destruction of evidence. The Trump administration disputed the narrative, with officials claiming Pretti interfered with a lawful arrest, while video evidence contradicted claims he brandished a weapon.
• ICE agents shoot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis; White House falsely brands him "domestic terrorist" — Federal border patrol agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, an intensive care nurse, in Minneapolis on January 25, 2026. White House officials immediately claimed Pretti was a "would-be assassin" and "domestic terrorist" brandishing a gun. Multiple witness videos emerged showing Pretti held only a phone when agents pushed him to the ground, and that his gun was removed seconds before he was shot in the back while restrained. Facing public and bipartisan backlash, Trump distanced himself from the narrative and shuffled immigration leadership.
• Federal agents shot and killed VA nurse Alex Pretti during immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis — Federal Border Patrol and ICE agents fatally shot Alex Pretti, a nurse without a criminal record, during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis on January 25, 2026. Multiple videos contradicted official DHS claims that Pretti intended to conduct a "massacre" or cause "maximum damage." Internal DHS sources told Fox reporter Bill Melugin that the shooting was likely a "bad shoot" involving an accidental discharge after agents heard "gun," and that DHS messaging about the incident was catastrophic for morale and credibility. The incident triggered congressional scrutiny, a government funding crisis, and a political backlash against the Trump administration's mass deportation campaign.
• Federal agents killed Alex Pretti, an ICE nurse, during Minneapolis street encounter — Federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, an ICE nurse at Minneapolis VA, on a Minneapolis street during a period of civil unrest. Video evidence shows Pretti standing with phone raised, recording, when officers pepper-sprayed and pulled him into the street. A doctor's affidavit describes at least three gunshot wounds in his back, with multiple shots fired in under five seconds. His family disputes the official account. The incident occurred one day after a statewide economic blackout and clergy-led protest involving an estimated 50,000 people.
• Border Patrol shoots and kills Alex Pretti, ICU nurse, during Minnesota immigration enforcement operation — US Border Patrol officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, during an immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota on January 25, 2026. Video evidence showed Pretti was unarmed at the moment of the shooting, contradicting federal claims that he posed a direct threat. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino claimed Pretti had threatened a "massacre" before being disarmed, but state investigators were blocked from the scene. The incident sparked public outcry and calls for investigation into federal enforcement tactics.
• Federal agents shoot and kill Alex Pretti during Minneapolis protest — Federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, a registered nurse at Minneapolis VA Health Care System, during a protest in south Minneapolis on Saturday. Video evidence shows Pretti being tackled by multiple agents after appearing to defend a shoved observer; an agent sprayed him with chemical agent before officers fired multiple shots at close range. DHS characterized the shooting as "defensive" and described protesters as "rioters." Pretti had no prior law enforcement contact except traffic tickets and was a lawful gun permit holder.
• Federal agents killed Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, in Minneapolis — Federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a VA hospital ICU nurse, in Minneapolis on Saturday morning. Pretti had stopped his car to observe agents chasing a family on foot, shouted, and blew a whistle. About a week prior, five agents had tackled him, breaking a rib, after he intervened in a similar incident. The killing triggered widespread public outcry and shifted the political calculus around federal funding bills in Congress.
• Federal agents killed VA ICE nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis — Federal immigration enforcement agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a VA hospital ICE nurse, in Minneapolis on January 25, 2026. Pretti was carrying a legally permitted firearm while participating in community-led first-responder activities. Administration officials, including Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino and FBI director Kash Patel, claimed the killing was justified and that Pretti posed a threat. However, the Minnesota Department of Corrections launched a website to counter DHS claims, stating that Bovino had misrepresented the target of the operation and that the individual identified had no significant criminal history in Minnesota.
• Minneapolis Police Chief criticized federal enforcement operations — Federal agents shot and killed Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, in Minneapolis while he was directing traffic and attempting to assist another individual. Video evidence shows agents using pepper spray on Pretti before tackling him to the ground and shooting him multiple times. Following the incident, federal agents blocked state investigators from accessing the scene, prompting Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to file a lawsuit for a temporary restraining order to prevent the destruction of evidence. A judge granted the order, barring the alteration or destruction of evidence related to the shooting.
• Minnesota National Guard distributed supplies to anti-ICE protesters — Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara told CBS's Face the Nation that the city had experienced three federal shootings in less than three weeks, contrasting this with the Minneapolis Police Department's recovery of 900 guns and arrest of hundreds of violent offenders in the previous year without shooting anyone. O'Hara stated that the federal operations are unsustainable and are straining the city's police department, which has only 600 officers.
• Border Patrol agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and U.S. citizen, in Minneapolis during an immigration enforcement operation. — The Minnesota National Guard, wearing neon vests to distinguish themselves from federal agents, distributed doughnuts, coffee, and hot chocolate to anti-ICE protesters, signaling their alignment with community opposition to federal immigration enforcement operations.
• ICE and Border Patrol agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis — On January 25, 2026, Border Patrol agents fatally shot Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37, an intensive care nurse at a VA hospital in Minneapolis. Video evidence shows Pretti was filming police with his phone when agents initiated contact. He was not holding or brandishing his firearm; agents disarmed him while he was on the ground. After disarmament, agents fired 10 shots total—4 initially (3 to the back) and 6 additional shots while Pretti lay motionless. Pretti was a U.S. citizen born in Illinois with no criminal record, a valid concealed carry permit, and had participated in protests against ICE operations. A nearby physician found agents counting bullet wounds rather than performing CPR. The incident occurred during a broader ICE surge in Minneapolis that has generated widespread controversy and calls for investigation.
• Federal officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen, during ICE Minneapolis operation — Federal ICE and Border Patrol agents shot and killed Alex Jeffrey Pretti, an ICU nurse, in Minneapolis over the weekend. Initial regime narratives claimed Pretti was a domestic terrorist who approached agents with a firearm and reacted violently. Video evidence contradicted this account, showing Pretti was legally carrying a permitted firearm, not brandishing it, and was attempting to render aid to a woman pepper-sprayed by federal agents. After agents removed his gun and beat him, he was shot at point-blank range with at least 10 shots while helpless on the ground.
• ICE agent fatally shoots Alex Pretti in Minneapolis — On Saturday morning in Minneapolis, federal ICE officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, during a large-scale immigration enforcement crackdown. Video evidence showed Pretti was holding a phone, not a weapon, while attempting to assist another person who had been pepper-sprayed. Officers pushed him to the ground, beat him, and shot him multiple times at close range. Pretti was licensed to carry a firearm but there is no indication he was holding or threatening officers with one. The incident represents one of several violent and fatal incidents during the ICE Minneapolis operation.
• DHS report on Alex Pretti shooting released; two CBP agents discharged firearms — On January 26, 2026, Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, was killed by federal officers during the "Operation Metro Surge" enforcement action in Minneapolis. The shooting prompted a response from major Minnesota corporations, who released a joint letter on January 25 calling for "deescalation" but offering no specific policy demands or explicit condemnation of the killings.
• Federal immigration agents fatally shoot Minneapolis nurse Alex Pretti during enforcement operation — The Department of Homeland Security released an initial investigation report to Congress indicating that two Customs and Border Protection officers discharged their firearms at Alex Pretti during a fatal shooting in Minneapolis on January 27. The report states that during an attempted custody operation, Pretti resisted and a struggle ensued, after which a border patrol agent and a CBP officer each fired their service weapons. The report confirms video evidence of Pretti assisting a woman confronted by agents and notes that a firearm was recovered from Pretti's possession.
• ICE agents attack US citizen Maria during immigration enforcement operation in Salem, Oregon — On an unspecified date in January 2026, federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at Minneapolis VA Medical Center, during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. Pretti was filming the agents when he was tackled, disarmed, and fatally shot. Trump administration officials falsely claimed Pretti "brandished" a gun and labeled him a "would-be assassin," but bystander video evidence shows Pretti holding only a phone and having been disarmed before shots were fired. The shooting represents the second fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis that month.
• — Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents pulled a US citizen named Maria from her vehicle in Salem, Oregon, after boxing in her car and smashing the window. Agents threw her to the ground and left her without medical care until discovering her US passport. Maria, a homecare worker and SEIU Local 503 member, sustained a concussion and bruised ribs. The incident prompted unions to raise nearly $20,000 for her support and sparked broader labor movement response to ICE enforcement surge.

Supporting reports

• ICE conducts mass immigration enforcement sweep across Maine, rapidly transferring detainees out of state — ICE agents conducted a federal immigration crackdown across Maine this week, apprehending more than 200 people. Federal authorities rapidly transferred detainees out of state, making it difficult for families and attorneys to locate them and file legal challenges. At least 50 immigrants were removed from Cumberland County jail on Thursday following a dispute between the sheriff and ICE over enforcement tactics. Data shows over 45% of Maine detainees are transferred to Louisiana, where some are held in tent facilities. Immigration attorneys report the pace of transfers appears designed to prevent legal intervention.

Supporting reports

• Secretary Noem falsely labeled killed woman as domestic terrorist — Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem falsely claimed that Renee Good, who was killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross, attempted to run over the agent and characterized her death as "an act of domestic terrorism." Vice President J.D. Vance suggested that protesters are engaging in "domestic terror techniques." These characterizations misapply the legal definition of domestic terrorism, which requires commission of one of 51 specific federal crimes involving weapons of mass destruction or air piracy.

Supporting reports

• Federal immigration agents detain two-year-old girl and father in Minneapolis, defy judicial release order — US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained a two-year-old girl and her father in Minneapolis on January 22 after stopping them near their home. A federal judge issued orders around 8:10pm prohibiting transfer outside Minnesota and mandating immediate release of the child into attorney custody. Despite the orders, federal officials placed both on a flight to Texas around 8:30pm. The child was later returned to her mother in Minnesota; the father remains detained. The father has a pending asylum application and no final removal order.
• ICE arrests asylum seeker and two-year-old daughter without warrant; defies court order by flying them to Texas — ICE agents arrested Elvis Joel TE and his two-year-old daughter without a warrant on January 22, 2026, in Minneapolis as they returned home from a store. Agents broke the car window while the child was inside and refused to allow the father to hand his daughter to her mother. Within hours, Judge Menendez issued an order prohibiting removal from Minnesota. Despite this order, ICE placed both on a flight to Texas approximately 20 minutes later. The daughter was returned to Minnesota the next day and released to her mother, but the father remained detained.

Supporting reports

• Medical examiner ruled detainee death in ICE custody a homicide — The El Paso County Office of the Medical Examiner ruled that the death of 55-year-old Cuban-born Geraldo Lunas Campos, detained at Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas, was a homicide. Lunas Campos died of asphyxiation after guards applied pressure to his neck and chest during an altercation in which he requested medication. Two detainees testified they witnessed guards choking Lunas Campos, who repeatedly stated he could not breathe. The Trump administration subsequently attempted to deport the two witnesses. At least 30 people died in ICE detention in the previous year, the highest number in twenty years, with six deaths in the first two weeks of 2026.
• Secretary Noem falsely labeled killed woman as domestic terrorist — Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem falsely claimed that Renee Good, who was killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross, attempted to run over the agent and characterized her death as "an act of domestic terrorism." Vice President J.D. Vance suggested that protesters are engaging in "domestic terror techniques." These characterizations misapply the legal definition of domestic terrorism, which requires commission of one of 51 specific federal crimes involving weapons of mass destruction or air piracy.

Supporting reports

• House approves DHS funding bill with seven Democratic votes despite ICE violence concerns — The House voted 220-207 on Thursday to approve a Department of Homeland Security funding bill that includes $10 billion for ICE operations, despite widespread Democratic opposition triggered by an ICE agent's fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, in Minneapolis. The bill includes modest reforms: a 5,500-bed reduction in ICE detention capacity, $20 million for body cameras, and flat funding. Seven Democrats joined Republicans to pass the measure. The bill now moves to the Senate, which must act by January 30 to prevent a partial government shutdown.

Supporting reports

• ICE detains 17-year-old Columbia Heights student without parental presence — On Tuesday, ICE agents detained a 17-year-old Columbia Heights student by removing him from his car with "armed and masked agents" present, without parents being notified or present. This was the second minor detained by ICE in the school district within the same day, part of an escalating enforcement surge in the region.
• ICE detains five-year-old Liam Ramos in Minnesota driveway — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained five-year-old Liam Ramos and his father in their driveway in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, on Tuesday, then transported both to a detention center in Texas. School superintendent Zena Stenvik reported that an ICE agent used the child as "bait" by directing him to knock on his front door to determine if others were home. The family had an active asylum case and entered legally at a port of entry. This was one of four detentions of minors in the school district within two weeks.
• ICE detention of five-year-old Liam Ramos with father in Minnesota raid — Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained five-year-old Liam Ramos and his father on Tuesday as they arrived home from school in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. According to school officials, an ICE agent used the child to knock on the family's front door before detaining both. The family had an active asylum case, entered legally at an official port of entry, and followed proper procedures. ICE transported them to Texas, with the boy suspected to be at the Dilley family detention facility. The Homeland Security Department defended the operation, but school superintendent Zena Stenvik disputed the agency's account of events.

Supporting reports

• Department of Homeland Security launches immigration crackdown operation in Maine — The Department of Homeland Security launched an immigration enforcement operation in Maine, officially dubbed "Catch of the Day," as part of the Trump administration's expanded immigration enforcement efforts.
• ICE launches "Operation Catch of the Day" immigration enforcement in Maine — Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agents launched a targeted operation in Maine on January 21, 2026, claiming to target "the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens." The operation has resulted in 206 detentions, though DHS provided only four examples of individuals with criminal records. Workers, unions, and residents report widespread racial profiling, fear, and economic disruption. Senator Susan Collins claimed the operation ended at her request, but residents and labor leaders dispute this, saying ICE remains active and causing ongoing chaos in the state.
• ICE launches Operation Catch of the Day targeting Somali immigrants in Maine — The Trump administration deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to Maine on January 21, 2026, in a targeted operation dubbed "Operation Catch of the Day" aimed at Somali immigrants. Approximately 50 arrests were made on the first day, with ICE stating it has compiled a list of 1,400 individuals in Maine to target. The operation follows similar enforcement surges in Minneapolis and comes after the Trump administration announced it would end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalis, giving hundreds two months to depart or face removal.
• DHS launches immigration crackdown operation in Maine dubbed "Catch of the Day" — The Department of Homeland Security launched an immigration enforcement operation in Maine with the name "Catch of the Day," as part of the Trump administration's expanded immigration crackdown efforts.
• Trump administration announces end of temporary protected status for Somalis — The Trump administration announced that in March 2026 it would terminate the temporary protected status (TPS) designation for Somali nationals in the United States. TPS has provided work authorization and protection from deportation for migrants from Somalia. This announcement follows the deployment of 2,000 ICE officers and 800 CBP agents to Minneapolis, which has the largest Somali population in the US, and the initiation of targeted arrests of Somalis in Maine.
• DHS deploys thousands of federal agents in Twin Cities under Operation Metro Surge — Thousands of DHS agents remain deployed in the Twin Cities under a federal operation branded "Operation Metro Surge." The deployment is ongoing as of January 23, 2026, and has prompted Minnesota's statewide economic blackout response and raised constitutional concerns about Fourth Amendment protections in the context of the leaked ICE memo on warrantless home entry.
• ICE enforcement surge in Maine under Operation Catch of the Day results in 100+ arrests within three days — ICE activity ramped up in Maine during the week of January 23, 2026, under a DHS-led enforcement operation branded "Operation Catch of the Day." Federal officials claim the operation targets "criminal" cases, but Maine leaders demanded transparency after reports of dozens of arrests on day one and over 100 arrests within the first three days. Local officials, including Cumberland County Sheriff, criticized ICE after one of his corrections-officer recruits with valid work authorization was detained. Growing fear has been reported in immigrant communities.
• ICE conducts mass immigration enforcement sweep across Maine, rapidly transferring detainees out of state — ICE agents conducted a federal immigration crackdown across Maine this week, apprehending more than 200 people. Federal authorities rapidly transferred detainees out of state, making it difficult for families and attorneys to locate them and file legal challenges. At least 50 immigrants were removed from Cumberland County jail on Thursday following a dispute between the sheriff and ICE over enforcement tactics. Data shows over 45% of Maine detainees are transferred to Louisiana, where some are held in tent facilities. Immigration attorneys report the pace of transfers appears designed to prevent legal intervention.

Supporting reports

• ICE memo authorizes warrantless home entry using force — An internal ICE memo from May 2025, reported by the Associated Press, authorizes agents to use force to enter people's homes without a warrant from a judge. Legal experts stated that such guidance violates the Fourth Amendment's protections against unreasonable search and seizure.
• ICE memo claims authority for warrantless home entry — A leaked memo from ICE, signed by Acting Director Todd Lyons in May 2025, suggests that immigration agents may use an administrative removal document, Form I-205, as authority to enter homes and arrest individuals without a judge-signed warrant. This memo, reported by the Associated Press, raises significant Fourth Amendment concerns as it implies a shift from judicial oversight to administrative self-authorization for home entries by ICE agents.
• ICE Memo Signals Shift in Home Entry Protocols — A leaked memo from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) suggests a potential policy shift from requiring judicial oversight to allowing administrative self-authorization for home entries. This change could have significant implications for Fourth Amendment rights, which protect against unreasonable searches and seizures. The memo indicates an escalation in enforcement tactics, raising concerns about the balance between security measures and civil liberties. The response from civil society, particularly in Minnesota, includes plans for protests and economic disruptions to oppose this shift.
• ICE memo authorized warrantless home entries using only administrative paperwork — ICE whistleblowers and new reporting revealed a secret internal memo authorizing agents to force their way into people's homes without a judge's warrant, relying only on ICE-issued administrative paperwork that even DHS training materials say is unconstitutional. The memo was deliberately hidden, passed around verbally, and used to train new recruits, explaining recent door-busting raids like the one in Minneapolis where no judicial warrant was shown.
• ICE memo authorizes warrantless home entries based on administrative warrants — According to an internal ICE memo, federal immigration officers are asserting sweeping power to forcibly enter people's homes without a judge's warrant, marking a sharp reversal of longstanding constitutional guidance. The memo authorizes ICE officers to use force to enter residences based solely on administrative warrants to arrest individuals, bypassing judicial oversight requirements.
• Senator Blumenthal warned against secret ICE warrantless entry policy — Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) issued a public warning against the secret ICE policy authorizing agents to break into homes without judicial warrants. He characterized the policy as "unlawful & morally repugnant" and stated that "every American should be terrified" by it. Blumenthal emphasized that in a democracy, the government is barred from breaking into homes without approval from a judge, except in vanishingly rare circumstances.
• Leaked ICE memo attempts to redefine warrant standards to permit warrantless home entry — A leaked ICE memo attempts to justify home entry without a judge-signed judicial warrant, instead relying on internal administrative paperwork. The memo distinguishes between judicial warrants (signed by a judge) and administrative warrants (internal executive-branch paperwork), effectively claiming the executive branch can grant itself permission to enter homes. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal has formally raised this as a constitutional violation in writing, citing Fourth Amendment concerns.

Supporting reports

• Labor unions and faith groups announce economic blackout in Minnesota to protest ICE enforcement surge and death of Renee Good — Labor unions, faith groups, and community leaders in Minnesota announced a planned economic blackout for Friday, January 23, 2026, calling on residents to refrain from work, shopping, and school attendance. The action protests the Trump administration's deployment of approximately 3,000 federal immigration agents to the state and the fatal shooting of Renee Good, 37, by an ICE officer in Minneapolis earlier in January. Over 2,400 arrests have occurred in recent weeks. Organizers held a press conference on January 21 outside Hennepin County government center to announce the blackout, which will include a march and rally downtown at 2 p.m. local time.
• Minnesota escalates to statewide economic blackout with downtown Minneapolis march — On January 23, 2026, Minnesota organizers launched a "Day of Truth and Freedom" statewide economic blackout, calling for a pause in normal life including work, school, and shopping, with a 2 PM march in downtown Minneapolis. The action represents an escalation from protest to coordinated economic disruption in response to federal enforcement operations and constitutional concerns raised by the leaked ICE memo.
• Minnesota organized general strike against ICE operations — Minnesotans organized an "ICE Out Day" general strike scheduled for January 23, 2026, calling for people to stay home from work, school, and shopping areas to protest federal ICE and CBP agents operating in the state. The strike received support from businesses, unions, faith organizations, democratic lawmakers, and community activists, representing a broad coalition response to ICE enforcement actions that resulted in the death of Renee Good.
• Tens of thousands protested ICE occupation of Minneapolis and St. Paul — Tens of thousands of Minnesotans took to the streets in bitter cold temperatures with wind chills of -20°F to protest the occupation of Minneapolis and St. Paul by federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Protesters carried signs and made statements comparing ICE agents to the Ku Klux Klan and calling out the administration's assault on constitutional protections including the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments.
• Killing of Renee Good by federal immigration officer in Minneapolis — An unarmed woman named Renee Good was shot and killed by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis earlier in January 2026. The killing prompted the "Day of Truth & Freedom" protest and economic blackout. Protesters demanded legal accountability for the officer and investigation of ICE for constitutional violations.
• DHS claims 3,000 ICE arrests in Minnesota over six weeks; Army deploys 1,500 soldiers on standby — The Department of Homeland Security announced it had made 3,000 arrests in Minnesota over the preceding six weeks as part of an ICE surge. The Trump administration dispatched 3,000 immigration officers to the state. The US Army placed 1,500 soldiers on standby for possible deployment to Minnesota in support of immigration enforcement operations.
• General strike spreads across United States with workers, nurses, and activists coordinating actions — A general strike that began in Minnesota is expanding to multiple states, with workers calling in sick, walking off jobs, and gathering in streets to protest Trump administration ICE and Border Patrol operations. In Minneapolis and Saint Paul, despite temperatures dropping to minus sixteen degrees Fahrenheit, turnout has remained strong. In New York City, more than 15,000 nurses have been on strike for over nine days demanding fair pay, safe staffing levels, and respect. Organizers aim to make this the largest general strike in modern U.S. history.

Supporting reports

• ICE detention of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and father Adrian Conejo Arias in Minnesota — Federal ICE agents detained five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father Adrian Conejo Arias on January 20 in Minnesota as they arrived home from preschool. The child was wearing a Spider-Man backpack and blue bunny hat. They were transferred to the South Texas family residential center in Dilley, Texas. School officials and the family's attorney disputed DHS claims, stating the father and son had an active asylum case, entered legally at a port of entry, and faced no deportation order. A federal judge temporarily blocked their deportation on Monday.
• ICE detention of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and surge in family detention operations — ICE detained five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos in Minneapolis on January 20, 2026, after his father fled during an arrest attempt. The detention exemplifies a Trump administration policy shift toward aggressive family detention: ICE booked approximately 3,800 minors into family detention from January to October 2025, including children as young as one or two years old. More than 2,600 were apprehended by ICE officers inside the country rather than at the border. Families with pending asylum claims and work authorizations are being detained despite legal protections under the 1997 Flores Settlement. Children are held in inadequate conditions without proper medical care or dignity.
• ICE detention of five-year-old Liam Ramos and father in Minneapolis — ICE agents detained five-year-old Liam Ramos and his father Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias on their driveway in Columbia Heights, Minnesota on January 20, 2026, then transported the child to a detention center in Texas without notifying the mother for over 24 hours. The family had an active asylum case and no deportation order. A fundraiser created to cover legal costs for their release raised over $110,000. The Department of Homeland Security claimed the father "abandoned" the child, but the family's attorney stated they did not enter illegally and are not criminals.
• ICE detention of five-year-old Liam Ramos in Columbia Heights, Minnesota — Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained five-year-old Liam Ramos outside his home in Columbia Heights, Minnesota on January 20, 2026. School officials and the child's family lawyer assert ICE used the child as bait to apprehend his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, an asylum seeker from Ecuador who entered legally at an official crossing. The Department of Homeland Security disputed this characterization, stating the child was held for protective purposes. Liam and his father were transported to a detention center in San Antonio.
• ICE killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis — In January 2026, during a major ICE operation in Minneapolis, ICE officer shot and killed Renee Good, a mother and poet. Federal officials claimed self-defense and labeled Good a domestic terrorist, while the mayor described the action as reckless and unnecessary. Hundreds marched in protest.
• ICE detained five-year-old preschooler using him as bait — ICE agents detained a five-year-old preschooler in Minnesota after using him as bait to get someone in his house to open the door. The child and his father were transferred from Minnesota to detention in Texas. The family had an active asylum case and no deportation order, meaning they were in the United States legally. The incident was reported by Reg Chapman of CBS News in Minnesota.
• ICE agents used five-year-old child as bait to abduct father outside preschool — ICE agents used a five-year-old child as bait to abduct his father outside a preschool, an act caught on video. The child and his father were then taken into detention and transported out of state. The incident exemplifies enforcement tactics that prioritize apprehension over constitutional protections and family integrity.
• Trump administration officials defend detention and use of five-year-old migrant child as bait — Trump administration border leadership defended the detention of five-year-old Liam Cornejo Ramos, who was separated from his family and used as bait to lure out his father before both were sent to detention in El Paso, Texas. Officials claimed the child was "doing great" and in the "least restrictive setting," while admitting they could not confirm whether the father had committed any crime. An official blamed the father for "abandoning" his son.

Supporting reports

• Sortor appears to admit driving vehicle at Minneapolis protesters — Sortor posted a video claiming he was surrounded by "anti-ICE rioters" who smashed his windows and attempted to kill him, but included an apparent admission that he drove his vehicle at protesters: "I was forced to drive away to save our lives, repeatedly warning those standing in front to GET OUT OF THE WAY. They didn't listen, so I had no choice but to go anyway." Alternative video evidence from Mercado Media showed Sortor had initiated physical altercation and accelerated toward protesters with none behind his vehicle.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge allows DHS to require week's notice for congressional ICE facility inspections — A federal judge in Washington DC ruled that the Department of Homeland Security can require lawmakers to provide one week's advance notice before inspecting immigration detention facilities. The ruling came despite the same judge blocking an identical policy in December, but the administration claimed it was now enforcing the requirement using different funding. The decision allows the Trump administration to continue restricting congressional oversight of ICE operations while separate litigation proceeds over aggressive federal enforcement actions in Minnesota.

Supporting reports

• Minnesota sues to halt federal ICE enforcement operations — Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul filed a lawsuit seeking to end ICE enforcement activities, alleging violations of the Administrative Procedure Act through excessive and lethal force, warrantless arrests, racial profiling, and targeting of courts, churches, and schools. The suit was prompted by the shooting death of an unarmed U.S. citizen by an ICE agent. The Justice Department responded by characterizing the lawsuit as an "absurdity" that would undermine federal law supremacy.