Federal Operation Sparks Confusion: Why was ICE in South Minneapolis?

June 4, 2025 - A community is left searching for answers after a federal operation conducted Tuesday at a taco shop near East Lake Street and Bloomington Avenue ignited criticism and confusion from Minneapolis elected officials and community members. Statements from the Mayor and Chief of police denied that an ICE raid was happening but the presence of ICE left city councilors, and county commissioners publicly questioning the integrity of those statements.

Why was ICE in South Minneapolis?

Wednesday morning Minneapolis Police chief Brian O'Hara was asked this directly at a press conference. He stated, "The Department of Homeland Security has created a Homeland Security task force, or task forces, they're all over the country, and there's one here locally, and it involves all of the different federal law enforcement agencies. So I had not seen that before because this is the first time they've done an operation like that.”

According to Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt, the Federal government was conducting a warrant for a transnational organization across 8 locations in Minnesota including one in Minneapolis and several across Hennepin county.

“Trump has created an environment of understandable fear, an atmosphere where distrust isn't just the norm. In fact, sometimes, it's appropriate. And so when I first learned about this federal action… I had several questions, and they're the same questions that a lot of members of our community have, which was first, is this federal action focused on immigration enforcement? The answer is no,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said during the press conference.

This incident in South Minneapolis occurred in a highly populated immigrant community less than 48 hours after the Department of Homeland Security told NPR it increased its daily arrest quota from 1,800 to 3,000. Last week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a list of "sanctuary jurisdictions" which the Trump administration said are in defiance of federal immigration orders. The State of Minnesota and the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis are on that list.

“I think the manner in which some of it was handled was tone deaf for the situation. I think there's no question everybody learned yesterday just how heightened and how tensed the issue of immigration enforcement in this city is,” the Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said.

Minneapolis police are seen escorting tanks down the street, shaking a community that has been traumatized by the Minneapolis police over the last five years. Photo credit: Rachel Dionne-Thunder

Images That Stoked Fear

Dozens of federal agents, some bearing ICE insignia and dressed in militarized gear, swarmed the area during daylight hours on Tuesday. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and the Minneapolis Police denied collaborating with ICE and said their involvement was limited to crowd control. "After a federal law enforcement operation was already underway, a crowd began to form, and MPD officers arrived to ensure the crowd and the surrounding area remained safe," MPD said in a statement.

According to a statement from the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, which confirmed its participation in the criminal investigation but denied any involvement in immigration enforcement. "HCSO has no involvement in civil immigration," the agency stated. "We work with federal partners regularly on criminal investigations."

Minneapolis Police officers are seen at federal law enforcement operation which included ICE in South Minneapolis. Photo credit: Rachel Dionne-Thunder

Minneapolis City Council Member Robin Wonsley expressed serious concerns about potential violations of the City’s separation ordinance, which prohibits city resources from being used to enforce federal immigration laws. Widespread public outcry has followed, driven by images and firsthand accounts shared by residents and activists showing Minneapolis Police officers assisting in street closures and crowd control – something community members and legal observers say made it difficult to monitor and document the actions taken by the federal agencies.

"The Trump administration has been open about its belief that federal agencies are above the law, underscoring the importance of civilians documenting actions they see that are concerning," said Councillor Wonsley. "I also want to recognize that today’s events on Lake Street were triggering for many residents who experienced militarized law enforcement in their neighborhoods in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd."

Nicole Mason recorded law enforcement shooting out of their vehicle into the crowd. At the time, she didn't know they were pepper balls and screamed, "They got guns out! They are shooting at people!" Video credit: Nicole Mason

Photo credit: Unidos MN

The Twin Cities Coalition for Justice condemned the City of Minneapolis' role in enabling the targeting of our immigrant neighbors. "Trump aims to undo sanctuary cities, but we demand our city leaders uphold their commitment to not cooperate," the coalition said in statement. "We demand that Mayor Frey put a leash on MPD! We call for discipline against officers that used unnecessary force, and against the chief and department leadership that authorized MPD cooperation with this targeting of our immigrant neighbors."

Minneapolis Council Member Jason Chavez, who represents the area, was unequivocal: “They tried to lie about an ICE presence at Lake and Bloomington. MPD assisted with closing off the area. This is completely wrong.” Council Member Elliott Payne called the MPD’s presence extremely alarming. “We must protect our immigrant neighbors to the fullest extent and hold our leadership accountable when we fall short of that imperative,” Payne stated.

Angela Conley, Hennepin County Commissioner for District 4, sharply criticized law enforcement narratives. “I'm tired of narratives that undermine the truth of what residents see with their own eyes,” Conley said. “ICE was present… faces covered, militarized showing, badges that say ICE—it was witnessed.” Photo credit: Jason Chavez

In response to ongoing concerns, Council Members Wonsley and Chavez have co-authored a legislative directive requiring MPD to publicly present on compliance with the separation ordinance. That presentation is scheduled for June 23rd at the City’s Public Service Center, with a livestream available to the public.

As Minneapolis continues to define its role as a self-proclaimed sanctuary city, Tuesday’s events have laid bare deep fractures over law enforcement’s cooperation with federal agencies—and renewed calls for transparency, accountability, and protection for the city’s most vulnerable.