Thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Minneapolis on Friday as students across the United States walked out of classes, calling for federal immigration agents to withdraw from Minnesota following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens.
The coordinated protests unfolded during a national day of action, with students and teachers leaving classrooms from California to New York. The demonstrations came amid mixed signals from the administration of Donald Trump over whether federal authorities would scale back a major immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota.
Federal Agent Surge Sparks Public Outcry
Under a sweeping immigration crackdown, the White House has deployed roughly 3,000 federal officers to the Minneapolis area. The agents, many seen patrolling in tactical gear, represent a force several times larger than the Minneapolis Police Department.
Opposition to the deployment drew thousands into downtown Minneapolis despite freezing temperatures. Families with young children, elderly residents and student activists joined the protest, voicing concerns about the tactics used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Katia Kagan, wearing a “No ICE” sweatshirt, said her parents emigrated from the former Soviet Union in search of safety and opportunity. “I’m here to defend the American dream my family believed in,” she said.
Kim, a 65-year-old meditation coach who declined to share her last name, described the federal operation as an assault on civil liberties, saying it amounted to an authoritarian response against citizens.
Local Demonstrations and High-Profile Support
In a Minneapolis neighbourhood near the locations where Alex Pretti and Renee Good were fatally shot earlier this month by federal immigration agents, around 50 teachers and school staff marched in solidarity.
The protests also drew support from prominent cultural figures. Musician Bruce Springsteen appeared at a fundraiser in downtown Minneapolis for the families of the victims, performing a newly released song titled Streets of Minneapolis.
Nationwide Walkouts Spread
Demonstrations extended well beyond Minnesota, with organisers predicting roughly 250 protests across 46 states. Rallies took place in cities including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, DC, under the slogan: “No work. No school. No shopping. Stop funding ICE.”
As protests intensified, President Trump publicly backed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, rejecting calls for her resignation and praising her handling of immigration enforcement. Critics, however, argue that the federal response has escalated tensions rather than eased them.
Federal Shake-Up and Legal Fallout
The protests reverberated through federal agencies. The acting head of the Minneapolis FBI field office, Jarrad Smith, was removed from his position and reassigned to Washington, according to sources familiar with the decision. The office had been involved in the federal surge and investigations linked to the recent shootings.
Separately, the Justice Department charged former CNN anchor Don Lemon in connection with a protest at a St. Paul church earlier this month. Lemon pleaded not guilty, calling the case an attack on press freedom and vowing to fight the charges in court.
Policy Backlash and Shifting Public Opinion
The New York Times reported that an internal ICE memo expanded agents’ authority to make warrantless arrests, enabling broader street-level enforcement. The move intensified criticism from lawmakers and civil rights groups.
Opposition to immigration policy has also threatened to trigger a partial federal government shutdown, as Democrats in Congress resist approving funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
Public sentiment appears to be shifting. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found support for the administration’s immigration strategy has fallen to its lowest level during Trump’s second term, following weeks of viral footage showing heavily armed agents confronting residents in Minneapolis.
Officials Signal Possible Changes
Trump’s border adviser, Tom Homan, was sent to Minneapolis and said enforcement efforts would become more targeted, rather than relying on sweeping patrols. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz questioned whether such changes would materialise, calling for a full drawdown of federal forces.
“The safety of Minnesotans depends on ending this campaign of brutality,” Walz said in a statement.
Despite earlier comments suggesting de-escalation, Trump later told reporters that no pullback was underway.
Schools Close as Protests Continue
Elsewhere, the protests disrupted daily life. Schools closed in Aurora, Colorado, and at least 20 schools in Tucson, Arizona, canceled classes due to anticipated absences. At DePaul University in Chicago, students displayed signs declaring the campus a sanctuary space.
High school walkouts were reported in Long Beach, California, while students in Brooklyn marched through the streets chanting anti-ICE slogans.