ICE militancy moved into sharp focus this week as radical activists and top Minnesota Democrats amplified rhetoric urging resistance against federal immigration enforcement amid escalating unrest in Minneapolis. The surge followed public calls to action from MN ICE Watch and remarks from Gov. Tim Walz that framed Immigration and Customs Enforcement as an abusive force.
MN ICE Watch, an “autonomous collective documenting & resisting against ICE, police, & all colonial militarized regimes,” urged supporters to escalate. “The time is ripe to embrace militancy on the ground,” the group wrote, calling for action “by any means necessary.” The post instructed activists to share real-time intelligence on “police and/or fascist” movements, arguing such information helps demonstrators “take informed action.”
Hours later, Walz echoed resistance themes. ICE agents are “just plain grabbing Minnesotans and shoving them into unmarked vans,” he said, calling enforcement efforts “a campaign of organized brutality against the people of Minnesota by our own federal government.”
The rhetoric coincided with violent clashes. During an attempted arrest of an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, two individuals attacked an ICE agent with a broomstick and shovel, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The suspect joined the assault, and the agent shot him in the leg in self-defense, DHS said. MN ICE Watch later shared footage of clashes, police movements, and vandalism.
Tensions have remained high since the Jan. 7 death of Renee Good. As agents ordered her to exit her SUV, she drove forward. An ICE agent fired three shots, killing her. DHS said the agent suffered internal bleeding after being struck by the vehicle. Good’s wife told her to “drive” as agents approached.
MN ICE Watch has previously promoted “de-arresting” tactics, including “totally surrounding the officers” and “pulling and pushing an officer off of an arrestee,” despite acknowledging such actions require physical contact.
DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin warned of rising violence. “There is a growing trend of agitators and rioters obstructing the arrest of illegal aliens and assaulting our brave law enforcement,” she said, citing a “1,300 percent increase in assaults.”
