...
By Khaleda Rahman
National Correspondent
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Protesters targeted a hotel where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were allegedly staying in Minneapolis after Saturday’s fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by a federal agent, according to videos and posts on social media.
Protesters had gathered outside the Home2 Suites by Hilton on University Avenue SE for a noise demonstration on Sunday night, according to reports and videos from the scene. Footage appeared to show a window being smashed, while “ICE OUT" could be seen spray-painted on the windows in photos.
Federal agents who responded to the scene after state troopers were working to disperse the crowd deployed “chemical irritants,” the Minnesota Department of Public Safety said. Unconfirmed reports on social media said federal agents used tear gas and flash bang grenades to disperse protesters gathered outside the hotel.
Read More on News
Officials have not confirmed if federal agents were staying at the hotel.
Newsweek has contacted the Department of Homeland Security, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and the hotel for comment via emails sent outside regular business hours.
...
Why It Matters
The fatal shooting of Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, by a Border Patrol agent on Saturday comes less than three weeks after Renee Nicole Good, a mother and U.S. citizen, was shot dead by an ICE agent in Minneapolis amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in the region.
Both shootings have sparked widespread protests and condemnation, with local leaders and Democrats demanding federal immigration officers leave Minnesota. In both cases, conflicting narratives have come from federal and state officials, and video footage taken by bystanders at both incidents has sparked questions and criticism. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the agent had fired "defensive shots" after "fearing for his life". Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said the DHS account of the incident is "nonsense" and "lies."
What To Know
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety said in a post on X just before 11 p.m. local time that the Minnesota State Patrol and Department of Natural Resources “were called to assist Minneapolis police with damage to hotel property at Home2 Suites Hotel on University Avenue.
The department said that as those officers were working to make arrests, federal agents arrived on the scene “without communication and deployed chemical irritants.” It was not immediately clear how many arrests were made.
One video posted by Frontlines TPUSA, the media arm of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, showed two federal agents standing at the entrance of the hotel.
"One officer appeared to have a bloody hand and was heard calling for back up,” the post said.
...
...
...
...
What People Are Saying
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety wrote on X: “The Minnesota State Patrol and DNR were called to assist Minneapolis police with damage to hotel property at Home2 Suites Hotel on University Avenue. While they collaboratively worked to encircle the group for arrests because the demonstration was not peaceful, federal agents arrived without communication and deployed chemical irritants, clearing the group. The State Patrol and DNR are no longer on scene.”
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, wrote on X on Sunday**:** "Minnesota believes in law and order. We believe in peace. And we believe that Trump needs to pull his 3,000 untrained agents out of Minnesota before they kill another American in the street."
President Donald Trump addressed the timeline for federal agents departing Minnesota in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, saying: "At some point we will leave. We've done, they've done a phenomenal job.”
What Happens Next
A federal judge has issued an order blocking the Trump administration from “destroying or altering evidence” related to the shooting after state and county officials sued. A hearing is scheduled in federal court in St. Paul for Monday.
A growing number of Republicans are pushing for a deeper investigation into federal immigration tactics following the latest shooting.
Meanwhile, protests against ICE are expected to continue in Minneapolis and other cities.
Update 1/26/26, 7:30 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to add pictures.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines