Residents of Minneapolis can already sense the climate in the Twin Cities becoming increasingly hostile. This move is taking place amid a dramatic increase in federal law enforcement agents enforcing increasingly punitive immigration policies. By January 15, 2026 things had taken a tragic turn. Agents from ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) used tear gas against protesters after the ICE officer shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good. This unfortunate incident has raised terror among the community. Now, they’re going to wash their hands and go home to protect their families.
Gerard James, a local therapist, noted the emotional toll on the community. “People are scared to go out. People are enraged, sad, scared,” he stated, reflecting the pervasive anxiety that grips many Minneapolis residents. The deployment of over 3,000 federal immigration officers has transformed life in the city, leaving families hesitant to seek medical care or engage in daily activities.
In St. Paul, a 57-year-old Latina citizen worried most about losing access to healthcare. She must have meant that emergency departments and children’s hospitals were “empty.” Families were too afraid to seek care for their sick kids. This is a sentiment expressed by everyone throughout the community. Most have begun to carry their passports and ID cards to avoid run-ins with federal agents.
As this story develops, plenty of Indianapolis residents remember the months-long protests that emerged soon after George Floyd was killed. Jason C., a 50-year-old lifelonger of south Minneapolis, shared his love for the city. Instead, he believes it looks a lot like that crazy time. He stated, “It is definitely a retriggering of those traumas,” yet acknowledged that the organizing networks established during the George Floyd protests have been activated again to support marginalized communities.
Yet amid this turmoil, an unusual number of residents feel a sense of optimism and pride for their city. Dan, a newcomer who relocated to escape discrimination in his home state, said, “Anyone from the Twin Cities will tell you how unique they are…seeing the vibrance and kindness of Minneapolis warmed my heart.” The community is what made him stay, he said of home. “There’s such a sense of belonging here. That’s why in my opinion, that’s why I think – that’s why I believe that Trump wants to destroy it so much.
The chaos and apprehension brought on by immigration enforcement have hit students and families hardest. A fifth-grade teacher in St. Paul observed that her class was shrinking daily due to the prevailing fears surrounding immigration enforcement. “I haven’t seen some of my students for two weeks. Every day my class gets smaller and smaller,” she lamented. Early learners struggle with more than missed school days. At the same time, they’re dealing with getting a handle on the anti immigrant climate of fear that’s everywhere.
Residents have gone to great lengths to protect themselves as well. A 72-year-old resident from Minnetonka learned to record ICE interactions on her phone to protect her neighbors during encounters with federal agents. This level of vigilance is indicative of a new atmosphere in the community as residents are uniting in defense of one another.
The pandemic has created challenges and harsh differences among the fairy community. Though many still share their fears and frustrations rooted in experiences stretching years back, others speak of the resilience and solidarity that have flourished in the wake of catastrophe. An anonymous resident articulated this duality: “We’re very clearly a test bed to explore what the people of this country will tolerate as long as it doesn’t affect them directly.”
Even more disturbing accounts describe how residents have seen direct conflict between civilians and federal agents on their streets at home. Mike, another Minneapolis resident, remarked, “Federal agents are assaulting and kidnapping American citizens and non-citizens in broad daylight. I thought this only happened in Iran or the USSR.”
As protests and violence only seem to exacerbate divisions across the country, law enforcement comes under increasing scrutiny for their patterns and practices. Residents are right to demand the highest standards of accountability and transparency. They are worried about the direct impact federal immigration enforcement has on their daily lives.