Trump’s crackdown on ICE protesters already shows signs of backfiring

A move aimed at stifling political dissent has already spurred protesters into action in Minneapolis

Published

June 23, 2026 6:30AM (EDT)

Protesters against Immigration and Customs Enforcement march through the streets of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 25, 2026. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP via Getty Images)

Earlier this year, the occupation of Minneapolis by Immigration and Customs Enforcement was in full swing, with more than 4,000 Department of Homeland Security officers in the city at its peak. During the operation, ICE wreaked havoc on the city, snatching residents off the streets and from their homes, sometimes leaving cars abandoned on the side of the road. Locals responded with widespread protests and grassroots efforts to track ICE, so the department turned their energy on protesters. The crackdown led to confrontations between federal officers and protesters, some of which resulted in deadly force from the government.