Protesters Rally Outside Whipple Building Over ICE Arrests of Asylum Seekers

Protesters gathered outside federal immigration court in Minneapolis on Monday, calling for an end to ICE arrests and what they described as complicit actions by court staff.

On Monday, dozens of protesters gathered outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building to denounce recent ICE arrests of undocumented asylum seekers. Organized by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC), the demonstration exposed what members called "coordinated kidnappings" carried out by plainclothes ICE officers just steps outside immigration courtrooms.

Three MIRAC members — Kelly Allen, Liz Szanton, and Montana Hirsch — delivered detailed accounts of arrests they witnessed while accompanying an asylum seeker to his July 9 hearing inside the Whipple Building. According to Kelly Allen, five MIRAC volunteers were present that day and observed multiple arrests inside the building’s hallways. 

"We witnessed multiple ICE kidnappings," Kelly said. "Plainclothes ICE officers were lurking in the hallway. Over the course of two hours we saw them detain four men — all of them asylum seekers."

Kelly described how one asylum seeker, whose case had just been dismissed by Judge Brian Sardelli despite his objections, was approached by officers posing as officials needing to clarify documents. Before Kelly or others could intervene, the man was taken into a locked room.

"Inside the courtroom, our observers watched as Judge Sardelli dismissed each case he had, despite their objections, despite them talking about the violence and threats they endured in their home countries and why they were afraid to go home," said Kelly.

Kelly said many of these individuals are being denied the right to appeal due to a new policy targeting those who have been in the U.S. for less than two years.

Arrests in Front of Families

Liz Szanton described the moments following the hearing as they tried to help guide the man they accompanied out of the courthouse. Before they could make it down the hallway, ICE agents "forcefully broke through our circle and pulled him away."

“We asked them repeatedly if we could have just one minute to speak with him about his rights and they refused. They dragged him through a door to a locked backroom," said Liz. "Another man, walking hand-in-hand with his toddler nephew, was arrested right there in the waiting area — in front of his entire family."

Liz said the group tried to help one man prepare for what awaited him, even going so far as to write a phone number on his arm in case he was detained. But ICE agents intervened again.

"They knocked the pen from his hand and shoved his head down," Liz recalled. "It was coordinated, calculated violence. Meanwhile, judges, guards, clerks — they all kept working like nothing was happening."

ICE agents, she said, were laughing and whistling while carrying out the arrests. Montana Hirsch called out the broader system and demanding accountability.

Growing Calls for Accountability

"When ICE enters courthouses, hospitals, places of worship — and the branches of the immigration system collude to deny people due process — there is no justice aside from what the people demand," Montanta said. "Shame on Judge Sardelli. Shame on the clerk who kicked us out of the waiting room. Shame on ICE."

MIRAC issued four specific demands to the court and immigration authorities:

1. No time limits in the court waiting room.

2. All master hearings must be held online.

3. No dismissal of cases over objections.

4. An end to ICE arrests at courthouses.

This protest is the latest in a series of actions MIRAC has led in response to immigration enforcement activities across the Twin Cities. The group previously organized responses to ICE activity on Lake Street and has vowed to continue putting pressure on local, state, and federal authorities.

"We demand an end to this terror. We are horrified, but we are not demoralized," Montana said. "We are fueled by rage. This is not the last time you’ll see us at the Whipple Building."