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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Cecilia Nowell

Terror, tension and unity in Minnesota amid Trump’s ICE surge: ‘I’ve never seen anything like this’

masked people in camo and tactical gear hold a person with a bloodied face on the ground
Border patrol agents detain a person in Minneapolis on 21 January 2026. Photograph: Brandon Bell/Getty Images

The deployment of more than 3,000 federal immigration officers to Minnesota has transformed life in the cities of Minneapolis and St Paul, with residents reporting witnessing clashes between civilians and agents, carrying their passports and ID cards around for fear of being stopped, staying home as much as possible, and worrying for the safety of their children while out in public.

“I’ve never witnessed anything like this in the US,” said Dan O’Kane, 69. He came to the conclusion after watching Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers fighting with students and throwing a teacher to the ground at Roosevelt high school, three blocks from his home.

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