1. The Spark: Two Families, Two Deaths
The protests are not just about policy; they are about grief. In January 2026, two fatal shootings by federal agents turned the Twin Cities into a powderkeg:
Renée Good (Jan 7): A 37-year-old mother shot in her car by an ICE agent after dropping her child at school. Video evidence appeared to contradict federal claims that she posed a threat.
Alex Pretti (Jan 24): A VA intensive care nurse and U.S. citizen shot ten times by Border Patrol agents while he was filming an enforcement action.
These deaths transformed “Operation Metro Surge”—a massive federal deployment of 3,000 agents—into what local leaders are calling a “campaign of retribution.”
2. The 2026 General Strike: “National Shutdown”
On January 30, 2026, Minneapolis led the country in the “National Shutdown.” It was the first time in 80 years that the U.S. saw a coordinated general strike of this magnitude:
School Walkouts: Thousands of students in Minneapolis and across the country (including Los Angeles and Texas) walked out of classes to protest ICE presence near school bus stops.
Economic Blackout: Hundreds of Twin Cities businesses closed their doors. Reports indicate some Minneapolis businesses saw revenue drops of 50–80% as residents stayed home to avoid federal checkpoints.
The “Filter Blockades”: Neighbors in Whittier and Phillips neighborhoods established makeshift roadblocks to prevent federal vans from entering residential streets.
3. The Political Stand-Off: Tom Homan vs. The State
As of Friday, February 6, 2026, a tense “de-escalation” is underway. White House Border Czar Tom Homan arrived in Minneapolis to replace the previous aggressive commander and announced a drawdown of 700 agents.
The “Drawdown” Reality: Despite the announcement, roughly 2,300 federal agents remain in Minnesota—well above the usual 150.
Body Cam Mandate: In a rare concession, Homan announced that all federal officers in the Twin Cities must now wear body cameras, citing “gaps” in previous operations.
Local Resistance: Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison continue to pursue a federal lawsuit, calling the surge a “federal invasion” that violates the 10th Amendment.
