Hundreds of demonstrators opposing the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) pushed back against a small gathering led by far-right influencer Jake Lang in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, after Lang announced plans to march toward a predominantly immigrant neighbourhood.
The confrontation unfolded in a city already on edge following two recent shootings tied to federal enforcement activity — the death of Renee Nicole Good, a mother of three, and the shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant about a week later.
On Saturday, protesters gathered near City Hall, waving signs and chanting for ICE and Border Patrol agents to leave Minneapolis.
Lang — one of more than 1,500 people pardoned by President Donald Trump after criminal convictions connected to the January 6 attack at the US Capitol — had promoted the event as an “anti-fraud” rally. Roughly 10 people attended Lang’s anti-Islam, anti-Somali and pro-ICE demonstration, while hundreds of counter-protesters arrived, shouting over his attempts to speak and forcing his group to retreat within about an hour to a nearby hotel.
A few scuffles broke out, but the Reuters news agency reported it did not observe serious violence.
Later, Lang posted on X that he was stabbed during an altercation but said a protective vest prevented injury. Reuters said it could not independently verify his claim.
Minneapolis police, responding by email to Reuters, said they were aware of Lang’s social media post but that no official report had been filed. Police also said they had not received any injury reports from victims connected to the protests.
Demonstrations have occurred daily since the US Department of Homeland Security increased immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, bringing in more than 2,000 federal officers. Protesters have criticised what they describe as aggressive tactics, including masked officers pulling people from homes and vehicles. The operation has been linked to at least one death — that of Good, a US citizen.
Trump administration officials have been accused of making claims about the circumstances of Good’s death that critics say conflict with videos of the incident. Officials have also labelled her a “domestic terrorist” without presenting evidence.
On Saturday, the situation escalated further when snowballs and water balloons were thrown, followed by the arrival of city police in heavy gear and an armoured vehicle.
Minnesota’s state guard said Democratic Governor Tim Walz had “mobilized” it to support the Minnesota State Patrol “to assist in providing traffic support to protect life, preserve property, and support the rights of all Minnesotans to assemble peacefully”. A guard spokesperson said the unit was staged and ready but had not yet been deployed.
On Friday, a federal judge ruled that immigration officers could not detain or use tear gas against peaceful protesters who are not obstructing authorities, including people observing officers during the Minnesota crackdown.
Trump has repeatedly pointed to an alleged scandal involving stolen federal funds intended for social welfare programmes in Minnesota as justification for deploying large numbers of immigration enforcement agents in the state. He has also repeatedly singled out Minnesota’s Somali immigrant community in racist terms, including referring to the community as “garbage”.
Trump has additionally warned he may invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy US troops to Minnesota if state officials do not calm the protests — saying federal immigration authorities are “only trying to do their job”.
The standoff has intensified tensions between Minnesota’s Democratic leaders and the Trump administration. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has said he will “not be intimidated” amid reports the administration opened an investigation into comments he made while criticising violent immigration raids.
Multiple media reports said on Friday that the US Department of Justice had opened a criminal investigation into Frey and Governor Walz — the Democratic vice-presidential nominee in 2024 — over allegations they impeded federal law enforcement through public statements.
