On Friday, police detained about a hundred members of the clergy at the state's main airport, Minneapolis–Saint Paul. The clergy were protesting against deportation operations and called for an end to the large-scale immigration action that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security describes as the largest in the country's history. The detained individuals were charged with trespassing and disobedience, after which they were released.
The protests were sparked by the killing of Rene Good, who was reportedly shot on January 7 by an agent of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Following this, daily actions began in Minnesota cities, and activists started closely monitoring the actions of federal forces.
Amid this scandal, media reports emerged about the resignation of a high-profile FBI agent who expressed dissatisfaction with the investigation into the murder being conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Additional outrage among protesters was caused by instances of the detention of small children, including a two-year-old and a five-year-old, during immigration raids. Human rights organizations and lawyers claim that such actions violate the rights of families, while the U.S. Department of Homeland Security insists on the legality of its operations.
Protesters are demanding that ICE leave Minnesota and condemn the policy they consider inhumane and threatening to local communities.
