Month: January 2026

On January 7, 2026, an ICE agent fatally shot 37‑year‑old Renée Nicole Macklin Good in Minneapolis, sparking large protests and vigils. (theguardian.com) Afterward, activists reportedly set up makeshift barricades and declared a short‑lived autonomous or “no‑go” zone near the shooting site. (amgreatness.com) City crews removed the blockades on January 9, saying streets needed to be clear for fire and medical responders. (wibw.com) Independent journalists and outlets reported volunteers stocking pop‑up tables with food, coffee, milk, medical supplies and winter gear including hand warmers. (amgreatness.com) Some commentators called the effort organized and suggested outside funding; claims of centralized bankrolling still remain unverified. (wibw.com)

Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a warning letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on January 24, 2026, after a Border Patrol–involved shooting in Minneapolis left a man dead. Bondi urged Walz to back federal law enforcement and federal immigration policy, demanding Minnesota “bring an end to the chaos” amid protests and unrest following the fatal encounter. The letter criticized state and local leaders for policies Bondi said endangered agents and called for cooperation with federal officials during the ongoing enforcement operations. The episode has intensified tensions in Minneapolis and prompted broader calls for an independent, thorough investigation into the shooting. (foxnews.com)

National Guard troops are stationed at all entrances to the Border Patrol shooting scene in south Minneapolis after federal agents shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti on January 24, 2026. The deployment, authorized by Governor Tim Walz, was described as being ready to protect critical infrastructure and assist local law enforcement amid growing protests. Video circulating online shows conflicting accounts — officials say agents encountered an armed man, while bystanders and independent analyses say Pretti was filming and was unarmed when pinned and fired upon. State leaders have demanded a state-led investigation and accused federal agents of obstructing local investigators. (apnews.com)

Senate Democrats are threatening a Schumer-led shutdown by opposing a DHS funding package that includes ICE, raising the odds of a partial government shutdown if a stopgap or appropriations bill isn’t passed by Jan. 31. Several Democratic senators— including Catherine Cortez Masto, Jacky Rosen and Tim Kaine— have announced opposition, demanding reforms to ICE such as warrants for arrests and limits on mask use by agents, even though ICE has reserve funds from a 2025 omnibus. Critics warn that lapses in DHS funding could pause FEMA grants and Coast Guard operations, imperiling disaster response and local emergency services nationwide. (axios.com)

On January 24, 2026, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz demanded that President Trump remove federal immigration agents from Minnesota after the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis during a U.S. enforcement operation. Walz called the presence of federal agents a “federal occupation,” activated the National Guard, and demanded a state-led investigation into the shooting, which witnesses and video have said contradict federal accounts. The killing sparked large protests and clashes with law enforcement, including use of tear gas, and intensified partisan debate after the White House defended the agents. Walz urged federal withdrawal to restore local trust and safety. (theguardian.com)

On January 24, 2026, federal Border Patrol agents fatally shot a Minneapolis man, Alex Pretti, after video of the confrontation circulated online, sparking intense protests and clashes with law enforcement. (en.wikipedia.org) Walz said Minnesota is compiling a “log of evidence” to support future prosecutions of federal agents, urged protesters to remain peaceful, and called for removal of roughly 3,000 federal agents deployed to the state. (forbes.com) Officials said state investigators were initially blocked from the scene and local leaders declared an unlawful assembly as crowd‑control measures were used. (theverge.com) State and federal investigations into the shooting are ongoing and evidence is collected. (en.wikipedia.org)

Federal agents shot and killed a man during an immigration operation in south Minneapolis, prompting protests and a heavy federal presence. DHS said the man approached Border Patrol officers with a handgun during an attempted arrest; officials say medics pronounced him dead at the scene. In response to the shooting, a self-described ANTIFA member posted on social media urging followers to arm themselves and “suit up, boots on the ground,” denouncing ICE and federal agents as “Nazi gunmen.” City leaders urged calm as investigators and federal authorities review video and witness accounts while the incident fuels heightened tensions and alarm. (startribune.com)

Governor Tim Walz condemned a January 24, 2026, Minneapolis shooting in which federal immigration agents fatally shot a 37‑year‑old man during a targeted operation, triggering large protests and clashes with demonstrators. Video and official accounts differ on what happened. Walz demanded state involvement in the investigation, criticized federal tactics, and placed the Minnesota National Guard on standby to support public safety. Protesters confronted federal officers near the scene, but there is no reliable evidence Walz said local or state police “retreated” after being “overrun” by leftists. State and federal investigations are ongoing as tensions persist and residents remain on edge. (washingtonpost.com)