MINNEAPOLIS MINNESOTA, A broad coalition of labor unions, progressive organizations, and clergy is urging Minnesotans to stay home from work, school, and shopping on Friday as part of a statewide protest against immigration enforcement.
Organizers said the action is intended to pressure U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to leave the state. Kate Havelin of Indivisible Twin Cities, one of more than 100 groups involved in the mobilization, said participants believe sustained public pressure is necessary to force change. She added that immigration enforcement operations should not continue in Minnesota in their current form.
The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have experienced daily protests since Jan. 7, when Renee Good was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer during an operation. In the weeks since, federal law enforcement presence in the area has increased, with officers repeatedly confronting activists and community members who track enforcement activity both online and in person.
On Thursday, authorities arrested a prominent civil rights attorney and at least two others connected to a protest that disrupted a Sunday church service in Minnesota. The arrests followed continued demonstrations opposing immigration enforcement actions.
Vice President JD Vance recently visited Minneapolis to meet with ICE officials. During the visit, he said he believed tensions would ease with improved cooperation from state and local leaders and emphasized that protests should remain peaceful.
Friday’s action is expected to be the largest coordinated protest so far, including a march in downtown Minneapolis despite extreme cold. The National Weather Service forecast temperatures ranging from single digits to double digits below zero Fahrenheit, prompting warnings about dangerous conditions.
Organizers acknowledged the severe weather but compared the immigration enforcement presence to a snow emergency, arguing that extraordinary situations require changes to normal routines. Havelin said the current environment makes it impossible to continue with business as usual.
More than 100 small businesses across the Twin Cities, particularly coffee shops and restaurants, said they plan to close in solidarity or donate a portion of their proceeds. Organizers noted that many ethnic businesses have already experienced reduced sales during enforcement surges as workers and customers avoid public spaces out of fear of detention.
Some business owners said they would rather close voluntarily than risk enforcement actions disrupting operations. Luis Argueta of Unidos MN said closing in solidarity was preferable to the uncertainty of staff being detained during business hours.
Several schools were also expected to be closed Friday for various reasons. The University of Minnesota announced it would cancel in-person classes due to extreme cold, while St. Paul Public Schools cited the same weather warning. Minneapolis Public Schools were scheduled to close for a teacher record-keeping day.
Clergy members planned to participate in the march and hold prayer services and fasting events. Representatives from faith traditions including Buddhist, Jewish, Lutheran, and Muslim communities said they would be involved.
Bishop Dwayne Royster, head of the progressive organization Faith in Action, arrived in Minnesota from Washington, D.C., earlier in the week. He said faith leaders are calling for immigration enforcement agencies to leave Minnesota and other cities where they believe authority has been overextended.
Royster said at least 50 faith-based organizers from across the country planned to participate. Additional faith leaders were expected to travel from Los Angeles, while others planned a solidarity rally in California.
The Rev. Jennifer Gutierrez, referencing a large enforcement operation in Los Angeles last year, described it as a deeply distressing experience and said many clergy members believe their faith compels them to support migrants.
