Across the U.S., a powerful wave of protests is sweeping through cities and towns, sparked by recent, dramatic incidents involving federal immigration officers. A fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis and the wounding of two people in Portland, Oregon, have ignited public outrage. These demonstrations coincide with the Department of Homeland Security’s intensified “biggest-ever” immigration enforcement operation currently underway in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
The Trump administration has defended the shootings as acts of self-defense, claiming officers were attacked by drivers who “weaponized” their vehicles. However, protesters like Steven Eubanks, compelled to join demonstrations in North Carolina, view the Minneapolis killing as “horrifying.” Many are rallying under the defiant banner “Ice Out for Good,” using the acronym for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Organizations like Indivisible have orchestrated hundreds of events across numerous states, echoing a shared call: “We have to stand up.”
In Minneapolis, a coalition of migrant rights groups honored Renee Good, the 37-year-old shot by an officer, with rallies and marches demanding an “end to deadly terror on our streets.” While many protests in the residential areas have remained peaceful, avoiding the violence seen after the George Floyd killing in 2020, some confrontations have occurred. Outside a Minneapolis hotel, a large protest turned volatile, with ice, snow, and rocks thrown at officers, resulting in minor injuries and 29 arrests.
Further escalating tensions, three Minnesota congresswomen—Ilhan Omar, Kelly Morrison, and Angie Craig—were initially allowed into a federal ICE facility for oversight, only to be turned away shortly after. They accused ICE agents of obstructing their duty, highlighting the scale of the operation, which involves over 2,000 federal officers. These widespread protests highlight a deeply fractured national conversation surrounding immigration enforcement.
Source: https://www.irishexaminer.com/world/arid-41773337.html
