Minnesotans are rallying for another day of protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement‘s continued operation in the state, after a second protester was killed by federal law enforcement personnel over the weekend.
Residents have been demonstrating despite the frigid temperatures after Alex Pretti was killed by a Border Patrol agent. Pretti was killed during a physical altercation after he had been recording federal operations on his cellphone and had intervened, which resulted in a melee. Now, President Donald Trump is sending “border czar” Tom Homan to Minnesota on Monday night to report directly back to the president on the situation there.
“He has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there,” Trump wrote in a post Monday morning. “Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Homan going to the city is “good news for peace, safety, and accountability.”
A sit-in at the state capitol is planned for Monday morning in St. Paul, while some University of Minnesota students are staging a walkout at noon and skipping classes, echoing previous actions. Later in the evening, other students are headed to a Twin Cities Hilton hotel, which they believe is housing ICE officers, telling participants to “Get these fascist bastards out of our cities.”
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE FATAL SHOOTING OF ALEX PRETTI IN MINNESOTA
Also on Monday, two courts will consider separate cases that could hold sweeping ramifications for ICE’s presence in Minnesota, and the Trump administration’s efforts to carry out deportation sweeps in blue states antagonistic to the White House.
At 2 p.m., a federal judge in Saint Paul will hear arguments regarding Minnesota’s attempt to access evidence from the latest shooting involving an ICE operation on Saturday. Pretti, 37, died during the incident, prompting more backlash against the Trump administration. Trump weighed in on the case over the weekend, announcing the shooting is under investigation, while expressing concern that Pretti was carrying a gun during anti-ICE protests. He had a lawful carry permit.
There is already a restraining order approved by U.S. District Judge Eric Tostrud that has paused any destruction or alteration of evidence.
In another court hearing, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Menendez is set to consider arguments centered on Minnesota’s attempt to end the federal government’s “Operation Metro Surge” in the state. ICE says it has removed over 3,000 criminal illegal immigrants, including murderers, rapists, and pedophiles, during the surge, which began in December 2025. Should the state win its case, ICE would face significant restrictions in how it operates in Minnesota, and the surge would be forced to end.
The latest round of protests against ICE in Minnesota, which have, at times, turned violent, began on Jan. 7 when an ICE officer killed Renee Good. Video footage of the deadly shooting sparked sweeping controversy, as the Trump administration said it proved the use of force was justified, and protesters believe that it showed that, at best, ICE grossly mishandled the situation.
The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association has requested a meeting with Trump and his advisers to discuss public safety in the wake of the unrest.
“Minnesota’s law enforcement officers are facing growing challenges in fulfilling their core responsibilities of protecting life, enforcing the law, and serving communities in accordance with constitutional principles,” the MCPA said, according to the Wall Street Journal.
BORDER PATROL AGENTS INVOLVED IN PRETTI SHOOTING REASSIGNED
Dozens of local business leaders have urged Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), and the White House to cooperate and de-escalate tensions. Their concerns come after the state saw extensive damage during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests and riots following the death of George Floyd.
“In this difficult moment for our community, we call for peace and focused cooperation among local, state, and federal leaders to achieve a swift and durable solution that enables families, businesses, our employees, and communities across Minnesota to resume our work to build a bright and prosperous future,” 60 CEOs wrote in a letter published over the weekend.
