ICE raids cause huge protests in Minneapolis

Thousands of people have been protesting in the US city of Minneapolis after the government sent immigration officers there.

The officers are part of a group called Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. Their job is to enforce US immigration laws, including arresting and deporting people who are living in the country illegally or who have overstayed their visas.

ICE teams arrived in Minneapolis in December as part of a nationwide plan ordered by US President Donald Trump to detain and remove illegal immigrants living in the US. Cracking down on illegal immigration was one of his main promises during the 2024 presidential election, and many of his supporters believe the policy is necessary to uphold the law.

Many people in Minneapolis are upset about how the immigration crackdown is being carried out. Protesters say ICE agents are acting too aggressively, with some victims being killed. Protesters also claim that ICE agents target vulnerable people, including families and long-term residents.

Some community groups have tried to protect neighbors by filming ICE arrests or warning people when officers are nearby. These actions have led to tense confrontations between protesters and law enforcement.

While many demonstrations have been peaceful, some have turned violent. In Minneapolis, two protesters who were opposing ICE operations have been killed. Their deaths have shocked the city and caused even larger protests to take place.

There is also disagreement between different levels of government. President Trump’s administration controls ICE, but local leaders in Minneapolis and state officials in Minnesota say they were not consulted about the operation.

Minnesota’s governor, Tim Walz, has asked the president to withdraw ICE agents from the city, arguing that the situation has become dangerous, with protesters and victims being harmed. President Trump has responded by saying the government is reviewing the situation.

Opinions across the US are divided. Some people strongly support ICE and say the officers are simply enforcing the law. Others believe the crackdown goes too far and unfairly targets certain communities.

Surveys suggest many Americans agree that immigration laws should be enforced, but they do not all agree on how strict or forceful those actions should be.

For now, protests continue in Minneapolis, and the debate over immigration remains one of the most discussed issues in the United States.