Immigration Enforcement Sparks Protests Amidst Controversy
Thousands of people protested Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence in Minneapolis and across the United States for the second consecutive week, according to NPR News on January 30, 2026. The demonstrations were sparked by Operation Metro Surge, which significantly increased the presence of ICE and U.S. Border Patrol agents in Minnesota.
The protests in Minneapolis occurred on Friday, January 30, 2026, as reported by NPR News. Demonstrators called for an end to Operation Metro Surge. Similar demonstrations were organized in other locations across the country.
The increased ICE presence and operations in Minneapolis coincided with controversy surrounding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). NPR News reported on January 31, 2026, that the DHS has been making false claims about people, as part of a broader pattern. As an example, NPR News cited an incident in early October where Marimar Martinez, a 30-year-old teacher and American citizen, followed federal immigration agents in her Chicago neighborhood.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem held a news conference in Washington, D.C. on January 24, 2026, where she displayed a photograph of a pistol recovered by immigration agents after a shooting in Minneapolis, according to NPR News. Federal immigration agents shot and killed Alex Pretti during operations in Minneapolis that day.
The protests and controversy surrounding DHS actions occurred amidst other significant events, including ongoing protests in Iran and discussions of international relations involving the United States.
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