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By Jasmine Laws
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Minneapolis and its residents have been nominated for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, amid ongoing tensions in Minnesota over the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
Newsweek has contacted Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey's press team and ICE via email outside of regular working hours for comment.
Why It Matters
The Nobel Peace Prize has never been given to a city in the past, typically only going to individuals and organizations.
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Minneapolis has been in the spotlight in recent weeks, after the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in the city.
Following the tragic incidents, there have been ongoing anti-ICE protests taking place in the city and other parts of the country, sparking wider debate about the actions of ICE agents in the country. Many stores, restaurants and businesses have also taken part in economic blackouts.
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Who Nominated Minneapolis for the Nobel Peace Prize?
Minneapolis and its residents were nominated for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize by the progressive news outlet The Nation.
According to a statement, which the outlet sent to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, released on Wednesday, the editors said that Minneapolis "has met and exceeded the committee’s standard of promoting “democracy and human rights, and work aimed at creating a better organized and more peaceful world.”"
The editors said that while "no municipality has ever been recognized" since the inception of the prize in 1901, they added that "in these unprecedented times," they "strongly believe" that the case can be made that Minneapolis is deserving of the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.
The Nation editors pointed to President Donald Trump's Operation Metro Surge in their statement, saying the administration "deployed thousands of armed and masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement and United States Border Patrol agents to Minneapolis, a beautifully multiracial and multiethnic city of nearly 430,000 people."
They added: "These agents have targeted the city’s diverse immigrant communities and struck fear into all of its residents."
The editors went on to say that the people of Minneapolis have "suffered countless abuses, including harassment, detention, deportation, and injury." They also referred to the shootings of Good and Pretti, deeming them "incidents that shocked the world."
The Nation editors stated that in response to these incidents, Minneapolis leaders called for "nonviolent protest, in accordance with the U.S. Constitution’s promise that Americans have a right to assemble and petition for the redress of grievances."
They added that the people of Minneapolis "answered that call with peaceful mass demonstrations that have drawn tens of thousands of protesters to the streets in frigid weather."
The editors also said that Minneapolis residents have been supporting and caring for those who have been "targeted because of the color of their skin or the language they speak," by delivering groceries to those "afraid to leave their homes" and providing financial support to those "who haven’t been able to go to their places of work because of the federal assault on their rights and humanity."
According to the Nobel Peace Prize website, "any person or organization can be nominated by anyone eligible to nominate." The website does not specify whether cities can be nominated, but states that "there is no vetting of nominations prior to the nomination deadline" and that the task of the Norwegian Nobel Committee is "strictly limited to selecting the best candidate (or candidates) among the entire list of submissions."
Those who submit nominations for the prize must also meet a specific criteria, such as being members of national assemblies, national governments, The International Court of Justice in The Hague, The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, l'Institut de Droit International and the International Board of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.
Certain university professors and directors of institutes are eligible to nominate, as well as those who have been awarded the prize in the past, and current and former members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
The Nation editors specified in their statement that the magazine "is proud to have included several Nobel laureates on our editorial board and masthead—including the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr." although it is uncertain whether this means they are eligible to submit nominations, or whether it is possible to nominate a city.
Who Are the Nobel Peace Prize 2026 Nominees?
The deadline for nominations for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize was January 31, according to the Nobel Peace Prize website, but nominators may announce their nominations later in the year.
Trump failed to win the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, which instead went to Venezuelan opposition politician María Corina Machado, but has made his interest in winning the award clear, as well as his frustration over losing the 2025 prize.
As the announcement of the 2025 prize coincided with Trump's success in bringing about a peace deal to end the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, there is a chance that he will be put forward for the 2026 prize.
The International Peace Research Association, a global network of academics supporting and promoting peace, and Matt Meyer, its secretary-general emeritus, have been nominated by several Nobel Peace Laureates and other peace leaders for this year's prize as well.
The association said in a statement: "For us, it is neither the award itself nor its nomination that fills us with pride, but the recognition of our collective, ongoing efforts by distinguished friends and co-workers."
What People Are Saying
International Peace Research Association secretary-general emeritus Matt Meyer, wrote in a post on Facebook: "I have learned that Nobel Peace Laureates Mairead Corrigan Maguire of Northern Ireland and Adolfo Perez Esquivel of Argentina have placed my name and that of the International Peace Research Association into formal Nomination for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize."
What Happens Next
This year's Nobel Prize announcements will take place from 5 to 12 October, with the Peace Prize announced on October 9.
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