Target is facing mounting criticism at home in Minnesota after federal immigration agents detained two employees who officials say are U.S. citizens.
The incident happened on Jan. 8 at a Target in Richfield, Minn. Local officials and witnesses said the encounter began in the parking lot and continued into the store’s vestibule. During the detention, one worker shouted, “I’m literally a US citizen!” according to The Wall Street Journal.
Two employees — Jonathan Aguilar Garcia and Christian Miranda Romano — were working drive-up orders when they were stopped by agents, officials said. Minnesota state Rep. Michael Howard said agents entered the store without a warrant and physically detained the workers. Family members and witnesses alleged the incident amounted to racial profiling.
The Department of Homeland Security later said on social media that one person was arrested for “assaulting a federal law enforcement offers [sic],” a claim the families and local officials denied.
Both workers were eventually released. One was reportedly dropped off injured and crying in a nearby Walmart parking lot. The other was taken briefly to a detention center before being let go.
The Post has sought comment from Target, DHS, ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Garcia and Romano were not immediately available for comment.
Protests Demand Action From Target
Days after the detentions, protests erupted outside the Richfield Target. Demonstrators demanded the retailer take steps to protect workers and customers from immigration enforcement actions on its property.
At a Saturday demonstration, activists chanted, held signs, and confronted store management. Organizers said they want Target to train employees on how to respond to immigration agents — including making clear that access to private areas of stores requires a signed warrant.
Protesters also urged the company to publicly oppose enforcement actions at its locations, arguing that Target’s silence has intensified anger in a community already on edge.
“It’s odd for them at this moment, when Minnesota is under sort of occupation, that they are silent,” said Ben Whalen, a former Richfield City Council member who helped organize the protest.
Whalen said the group met with the store’s manager to push for clearer policies and stronger protections for employees following the incident.
Enforcement Operations Expand Across Minnesota
Federal immigration activity has surged across Minnesota in recent weeks, with ICE and Border Patrol conducting operations in residential neighborhoods, retail parking lots, and inside big-box stores, according to local officials.
Officials said the activity intensified after a major federal deployment that resulted in hundreds of arrests, including dozens involving people accused of violent crimes.
Tensions escalated further after the Jan. 7 fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. The incident triggered days of protests and political backlash. Demonstrators gathered outside government buildings and other federal sites as investigations continued and public anger over the federal presence grew.
In the early phase of the operation, federal officials said agents arrested roughly 300 people in a two-day sweep in the Minneapolis area, with at least 10 identified as accused killers or violent child *** offenders.
Other Retailers Also Drawn Into Enforcement Activity
Target is not the only retailer caught up in the enforcement push. Local officials said immigration agents have detained people inside Walmart stores and in parking lots around the Twin Cities in recent days.
Videos circulating online appear to show agents confronting individuals inside stores and using retail locations as staging points while operations are underway.
Home Depot parking lots have also become frequent sites of enforcement activity, in part because day laborers have long gathered there seeking temporary construction work. Activists have urged the company to intervene or discourage the raids, but Home Depot has said federal agents are permitted to operate in publicly accessible areas and that the company does not coordinate with ICE or CBP.
