In a dramatic standoff at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, nearly 100 religious leaders were arrested Friday as they blocked access to demand an end to collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The group Faith in Minnesota organized the bold action, which saw clergy from various faiths gather in Terminal 1’s departure area, halting traffic and drawing national attention.
The protesters chanted prayers and shared harrowing stories of families torn apart by ICE detentions. Organizers highlighted that around 2,000 people have been deported from this very airport in recent months. Union members added that ICE has also targeted 12 airport workers with arrests, fueling outrage among employees and communities alike.
Tensions have simmered since January 7, when ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot 37-year-old U.S. citizen and mother Renee Good during an immigration operation. That incident sparked daily demonstrations across the Minneapolis area, culminating in this widespread day of action dubbed ‘ICE Out of Minnesota: A Day of Truth and Freedom.’
Beyond the airport, the movement shut down over 700 businesses statewide. Demonstrators urged residents to skip work, avoid shopping, and keep children home from school in a powerful show of solidarity. Some protesters even blocked roads leading to the ICE office at Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, pelting vehicles with ice chunks that shattered windows before police intervened after hours of unrest.
Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office reported the blockade lasted several hours, with authorities issuing dispersal orders only after tensions peaked. Faith in Minnesota vows to continue pushing airlines like Delta and Signature Aviation to sever ties with ICE, framing the arrests as a moral stand against what they call inhumane policies. As legal proceedings unfold, this clash underscores deepening divides over immigration enforcement in the heartland.