A coalition of activist organizations — including chapters of the Democratic Socialists of America, major labor unions, left-wing groups, and other activist networks — is backing a planned statewide “shutdown” in Minnesota in protest of federal immigration enforcement actions.
Organizers of the event, called “ICE Out of MN: Day of Truth and Freedom,” announced earlier this month that supporters would participate in protests and encourage residents to forgo work, school, and shopping on Friday to call for an end to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the state. The effort includes a march in Minneapolis and broader demonstrations across Minnesota, Just the News reported.
Groups listed as supporting the shutdown include the national and Minnesota chapters of the Democratic Socialists of America, the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), the People’s Forum, as well as explicitly communist organizations such as the Freedom Road Socialist Organization and the Twin Cities chapter of the Communist Party USA.
Several major unions, including the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the United Auto Workers (UAW), are also participating, as is a protest network linked to the Chinese Communist Party, Just the News noted.
The broad coalition has been linked by some lawmakers to a funding network associated with businessman Neville Singham, who has ties to international activist groups. The House Oversight Committee, led by Republicans, recently voted to subpoena Singham in connection with investigations into activist networks backing anti-ICE efforts.
The planned actions follow weeks of heightened tensions in Minnesota after a fatal shooting earlier this month involving an ICE agent and Renee Good, and amid nationwide protests over federal immigration enforcement.
The ICE Out Now site laid out the plans for the Friday shutdown, describing it as “a unified statewide pause in daily economic activity” including “no work (except emergency services),” “no school,” and “no shopping or consumer spending.” The site said that “the demands of Minnesotans” included that “ICE must leave Minnesota now,” that “the officer who killed Good must be held legally accountable,” and that there should be “no additional federal funding for ICE in the upcoming budget.”
Political and community leaders have expressed differing views on the protests and shutdown plans, with some describing them as a legitimate expression of opposition to federal policy, and others raising concerns about disruptions to daily life and pressure on local communities as demonstrations continue.
PSL said on X on Tuesday that “today, millions of people across the country are walking out of school and work to protest the one-year anniversary of the Trump administration” and that “on Friday, January 23, the people of Minnesota will hold a historic shutdown.” The socialists said that “it’s not enough to be angry — we must be organized!”
“Minnesotans are clear! ICE IS NOT WELCOME HERE! Momentum is growing for the state-wide shutdown on January 23rd to demand ICE OUT!” PSL tweeted that day. “Across the Twin Cities, people are united in opposing Trump’s racist immigration agenda and ICE’s attacks on our communities.”
A federal agent opened fire during an arrest operation in Southern California on Wednesday after an illegal immigrant allegedly rammed law enforcement with his vehicle while attempting to flee, the Department of Homeland Security told Fox News.
The incident occurred on Wednesday morning in Compton as DHS officers attempted to arrest William Eduardo Moran Carballo, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador with alleged ties to a human smuggling operation, according to a DHS spokesperson, Fox News reported.
DHS said Carballo has two prior arrests for inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant and was the subject of a final order of removal issued by an immigration judge in 2019.
During the arrest attempt, DHS said Carballo “weaponized his vehicle and rammed law enforcement” in an effort to evade custody.
