Minnesota businesses strike against ICE

Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images

Amid wind chills as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit, Minnesotans just made clear that they’ll tolerate extreme cold, but not ICE. Hordes of people marched through frigid Minneapolis yesterday afternoon as part of a daylong economic blackout protesting ICE activity, following an immigration officer’s killing of Renee Good earlier this month and the detainment of a preschooler this week. Community leaders and labor unions organized “ICE Out” day, which called for no work, no shopping, and no school (most districts closed due to the cold anyway) to show local solidarity, demand that ICE leave Minnesota, and pressure Congress to intervene: Businesses and shops around Minneapolis sat empty, the New York Times reported, and many had signs in their windows expressing support for the day of protests. More than 700 businesses—including bookstores, movie theaters, museums, and restaurants—closed for the day, organizers said. Thousands of residents were expected to call out of work. The Minneapolis City Council and a group representing 1,000+ local unions endorsed the strike, though the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce president told HR Brew that the Chamber didn’t “particularly love the idea.” At Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, police arrested ~100 clergy members protesting deportation flights yesterday. Earlier this week, Vice President JD Vance blamed tension in Minnesota on “a failure of cooperation” from state officials. Zoom out: Target, UnitedHealth, 3M, and 14 other Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in Minnesota. Some are reportedly issuing internal guidance on the Trump administration’s immigration crackdowns—but none have commented publicly.