Five years after the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer sparked widespread protests, the city is once again at the center of federal scrutiny – but this time, the focus has shifted from police practices to immigration enforcement.
Federal Intervention, Then and Now
Following the protests in 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice opened a “pattern and practice” investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department’s use of force. The Justice Department found excessive force was used, particularly against protesters, Black people, Native Americans, and people with disabilities. In response, Minneapolis banned choke holds and no-knock warrants.
More recently, over two thousand Department of Homeland Security officers have entered Minnesota’s Twin Cities – Minneapolis and St. Paul, both sanctuary jurisdictions – as part of the Trump Administration’s efforts to increase deportations. These officers, from ICE, Border Patrol, and DHS police, have made hundreds of arrests at locations like bus stops, homes, and even a library.
Targeted Communities and Concerns
These operations have specifically targeted Latino and Somali communities. Minnesota is home to over one hundred thousand people of Somali descent, the vast majority of whom are U.S. citizens. The Administration has reportedly used alleged social-services fraud schemes involving some Somalis as justification for “DOOR TO DOOR” operations. Trump has also publicly disparaged Somali people, including Representative Ilhan Omar.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem recently joined agents in Minneapolis, posting video of a raid on social media. The following day, ICE officer Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, a white U.S. citizen, during a raid in the same area where George Floyd was killed. Bystander video shows an officer approaching Good’s vehicle and then shooting multiple times after she attempted to drive away. Officials, including Trump and Noem, have defended Ross’s actions as self-defense, while the Vice-President accused Good of attempting to hit the officer with her car.
A vigil for Good drew a crowd of several thousand people, with one speaker calling her death a “modern-day lynching” and blaming Trump for deploying ICE officers to “criminalize us.” A community organizer stated that fear has been “daily” since ICE began operating in the streets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the initial federal investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department?
The Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice opened a “pattern and practice” investigation into the use of force by the Minneapolis Police Department following the death of George Floyd in 2020.
How many federal officers are currently involved in operations in Minnesota?
More than two thousand officers with the Department of Homeland Security have been deployed to Minnesota’s Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs.
What has been the response to the recent ICE operations?
The operations have sparked fear within targeted communities, particularly the Latino and Somali populations, and have led to protests and vigils following the death of Renee Nicole Good.
As federal enforcement continues in Minneapolis, it remains to be seen whether these actions will further inflame tensions or lead to a shift in policy. It is possible that legal challenges to the ICE operations will emerge, and analysts expect continued scrutiny of the Department of Homeland Security’s tactics.
