Minnesota Madness: Anti-ICE Protests Turn Violent | WATCH
A hotel believed to house federal agents became the site of a terrifying standoff as masked rioters erected barricades and attacked security. Amid "Operation Metro Surge" tensions and the death of ICU nurse Alex Pretti, the arrival of federal reinforcements marked a dramatic escalation in the struggle for control over Minnesota’s streets.
Tensions escalated as a group of protesters gathered outside a hotel in St. Paul, attempting to force entry and clashing with security personnel, amid claims that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were staying there.
Videos and eyewitness accounts depict a chaotic scene, with demonstrators throwing snowballs, setting off fireworks, smashing windows, and erecting barricades, while chanting and creating noise disturbances to disrupt the alleged federal presence.
The incident at the hotel, identified in reports as potentially the Home2 Suites or a Hilton property, unfolded late Sunday into Monday, with federal agents eventually arriving on scene and deploying tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Protesters were seen parking vehicles in front of the entrance, honking horns, and slamming objects to amplify the disruption. One video captured a rioter hurling what appeared to be a heavy rock at a federal agent, heightening the anarchy. Guests inside the hotel were reportedly frightened, with some looking out from windows as the confrontation intensified.
Local police response was limited initially, with reports noting only one officer present for about an hour, seemingly negotiating rather than intervening aggressively.
No immediate widespread arrests were documented in real-time accounts, though federal agents' arrival led to the use of crowd-control measures like tear gas.
The Minnesota National Guard has not been deployed for this specific incident, despite calls from some online commentators for their involvement; however, the Guard has been active in the region for unrelated winter storm recovery efforts.
Critics have decried the situation as "total anarchy," urging arrests and stronger law enforcement action.
This clash is part of a broader wave of anti-ICE protests in the Twin Cities area, triggered by intensified federal immigration operations under the Trump administration's "Operation Metro Surge."
Recent events include the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti during an ICE arrest attempt, which sparked large-scale demonstrations causing property damage and arrests.
Protesters have targeted multiple hotels believed to accommodate ICE and Border Patrol agents, leading to temporary closures of establishments like the InterContinental St. Paul Riverfront, DoubleTree St. Paul Downtown, and others due to safety concerns.
In some cases, hotels canceled reservations for federal agents while allowing other guests to remain.
Related incidents include protests at a St. Paul church over a pastor's alleged ties to ICE, resulting in arrests, and noise demonstrations at other Minneapolis hotels like the Canopy by Hilton and Renaissance.
A counter-protest involving far-right influencer Jake Lang was also chased off by anti-ICE demonstrators.