Video of ICE Raid Sparks Confrontations with Federal Agents in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS — Public anger over federal immigration operations intensified in Minnesota after newly released footage showed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel forcing entry into a private residence. The incident, captured early on the morning of Jan. 14, set off a series of street demonstrations that escalated into direct clashes between protesters and federal agents in downtown Minneapolis later the same day.

The 45-second video, obtained by ABC News and circulated widely on social media platforms, depicts at least four agents wearing tactical vests marked “POLICE ICE.” In the recording, the officers strike a front door several times before pushing it open and entering the home. Voices inside the residence can be heard shouting in apparent distress, but the footage ends before the agents re-emerge or state the purpose of the operation. The individual who captured the video has not been publicly identified, and ICE has not provided details on the target of the raid.

Within hours of the video’s release, immigrant-rights advocates and community organizations announced a rally outside the Whipple Federal Building, where ICE maintains offices in the Twin Cities. By early afternoon, several hundred demonstrators had gathered, chanting slogans against deportations and holding signs urging local authorities to “protect Minnesota families.” Protesters then marched through downtown streets, temporarily blocking traffic near South 7th Street and 5th Avenue.

Tensions rose when federal agents in protective gear formed a line outside a secured parking area adjacent to the building. Protesters attempted to approach the entrance, and brief pushing incidents occurred. Video recorded by bystanders showed agents raising clear plastic shields as demonstrators linked arms. No serious injuries were visible in the recordings, and no official injury reports have been released.

Shortly before 5 p.m., federal personnel used a handheld loudspeaker to order the crowd to disperse. Many participants moved back, but a smaller group remained until after nightfall. A second confrontation took place around 7 p.m., according to witnesses, when agents attempted to move unmarked vans out of the lot. Protesters blocked one vehicle for several minutes before officers cleared a path. The standoff ended close to 8 p.m., when organizers announced the demonstration would reconvene the following morning.

Local police officers monitored the protest at the request of federal authorities but did not assume primary enforcement duties. The Minneapolis Police Department said in a brief statement that it “assisted in maintaining public safety” and referred all questions concerning arrests or use of force to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As of late Tuesday, neither ICE nor DHS had released information on detentions, injuries or property damage connected to the protest.

The raid video renewed scrutiny of ICE’s conduct during home operations. Agency guidelines state that officers must possess a judicial warrant or obtain consent before entering a dwelling, unless exigent circumstances exist. Those policy details are outlined on the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations policy page. In an emailed response to ABC News, an ICE spokesperson acknowledged receipt of questions about the Minneapolis incident but said the agency would not comment “on active enforcement actions.”

Community leaders urged calm while calling for transparency. City Council Member Rosa Martínez, whose district includes several immigrant enclaves, said her office had requested a full briefing from federal officials. “Residents deserve to know why forceful entry was used and whether proper legal procedures were followed,” she said in a written statement. The council member also asked the state’s congressional delegation to seek a federal review of the operation.

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Governor Tim Walz’s office confirmed it is “monitoring developments” but noted that Minneapolis police retain jurisdiction over public demonstrations, while ICE remains responsible for federal enforcement actions. The governor did not declare a state of emergency or activate the Minnesota National Guard.

Legal advocacy groups, including the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Coalition and the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, said they are gathering witness accounts and may pursue litigation if evidence suggests agents violated constitutional protections. “Forced entry without a warrant is a serious matter,” coalition spokesperson Daniel Kim said during a press briefing. “We encourage anyone with additional footage or information to come forward.”

Protest organizers announced plans for a vigil outside the residence where the raid occurred, located in a predominantly Latino neighborhood on the city’s south side. They also scheduled another march for Wednesday morning, beginning at the Hennepin County Government Center and ending at the federal building.

ICE conducts thousands of home and workplace operations each year nationwide, often triggering local backlash in jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Minneapolis operates under a “separation ordinance” that restricts city employees, including police officers, from assisting in civil immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant.

As of Tuesday night, federal officials had not released information about the person or people taken into custody during the Jan. 14 raid. No future court dates or charges were listed in publicly accessible federal dockets. The lack of official details, coupled with the forceful nature of the entry depicted in the video, is likely to remain a focal point for community activists and elected officials in the coming days.

Crédito da imagem: ABC News