Neighbors Fight Back as ICE Stalks Minneapolis

Minneapolis is no longer the quiet city many thought it was. A few blocks can feel normal, but behind that calm a tense watch is happening every day. Federal agents show up in plain clothes and blend into neighborhoods, making people feel watched even though they are not everywhere at once. The fear that someone could be taken at any moment has pushed many residents, especially immigrants, into hiding. The city’s response is a mix of courage and confusion. Locals now patrol streets, post signs that say “ICE OUT, ” and give free water to anyone who needs it. Volunteers set up hot‑dish kitchens, deliver groceries, and help people who can’t leave their homes. This network grew quickly after the federal government announced a large‑scale raid in Minneapolis, called Metro Surge. It shows that people can come together when they feel threatened. Yet the problem is still alive. ICE agents have taken many people from their jobs, grabbed parents on school routes, and left cars abandoned in the streets. Those who are most at risk—people with uncertain status or those who simply look different—have stopped going to work, school, or even the grocery store. The result is a community that feels split between solidarity and fear.The city’s leaders have asked for a pause on evictions, hoping that people can keep their homes while the situation calms. But the decision lies with the state governor, who has not yet said what he will do. Meanwhile, the city council is trying to balance support for those who need it with the reality that no one else can step in. Some residents have turned to technology. A local tech worker installed a network of private cameras on street corners, giving neighbors a way to watch for agents and record any harassment. Others have started handing out dashcams so people can film encounters with ICE themselves. These tools help residents feel safer, but they also show how much the government’s presence feels invasive. The fight against ICE is not just about police and immigration. It touches on deeper histories of displacement, such as the treatment of Native peoples in the area and the legacy of past injustices. Activists at a nearby historic fort are using the space to support refugees and protest the ongoing raids. Despite all this, life goes on. People still have to pay rent, go to work when they can, and try to keep their families together. The city’s residents are looking out for one another, hoping that the tension will eventually ease and that they can rebuild a community where everyone feels safe.