Federal law enforcement officers raided a Minneapolis taco restaurant Tuesday morning, sparking protests from immigrant rights activists and neighbors.
“While we are still gathering details, this incident was related to a criminal search warrant for drugs and money laundering and was not related to immigration enforcement,” Frey wrote.
The administration has sought to pressure local law enforcement into joining the effort, while progressive states and cities have refused.
In a statement posted to social media, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office said the incident was “not related to immigration enforcement.” The sheriff’s office said it has no involvement in civil immigration enforcement but does assist federal authorities on criminal investigations and enforcement.
Federal law enforcement officers on the scene declined to say what the purpose of the raid was, and directed the Reformer to an email address for ICE’s media contact.
After a federal police raid on a taco joint in Minneapolis on Tuesday morning, neighbors and immigrant rights advocates staged protests.
Officers dressed in U.S. Customs and Immigration, U.S. A. Around Las Cuatro Milpas on East Lake Street were the Drug Enforcement Administration, Minneapolis Police Department, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, and the IRS’s criminal investigation division.
The protesters gathered on the opposite side of the police tape, yelling at the officers and asking why ICE agents were standing next to Minneapolis police, whose leaders had vowed not to help federal agencies with civil immigration enforcement, while officers searched the building.
No one was arrested, according to a social media post by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
Frey wrote, “This incident was not related to immigration enforcement and was related to a criminal search warrant for drugs and money laundering, though we are still gathering details.”.
This section of Lake Street was crowded with demonstrators five years ago, when they clashed with police after George Floyd was killed. As law enforcement vehicles drove away from the scene today, demonstrators threw trash cans and traffic cones in their path and yelled at the officers to either quit their jobs or go home.
The event coincides with the Trump administration’s pledge of mass deportations and the use of harsh and questionable legal methods to remove immigrants, including those who are in the country lawfully. Cities and progressive states have resisted the administration’s attempts to persuade local law enforcement to join the effort.
The Minneapolis Police Department said it was still awaiting information regarding the operation in a statement posted to X, adding that MPD’s response was solely to “ensure the crowd and the surrounding area remained safe.”. Brian O’Hara, the chief of police for Minneapolis, was present.
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office claimed that the incident was “not related to immigration enforcement” in a social media post. “”.
Although it helps federal authorities with criminal investigations and enforcement, the sheriff’s office stated that it is not involved in civil immigration enforcement.
The Reformer was sent to an email address for ICE’s media contact by federal law enforcement officials who refused to provide an explanation for the raid’s objective. A few chose not to disclose their agency affiliation. The majority donned masks.
Tuesday afternoon, officers came out of the building carrying boxes, which they then put into a van. When demonstrators tried to stop the cars from moving, police used piercing sirens and chemical irritants to push them aside.
The demonstrators included Jason Chavez, a member of the Minneapolis City Council whose ward includes Las Cuatro Milpas.
Chavez stated, “We have MPD showing up, closing the perimeter, and helping, and helping with this situation. We have people in ICE badges.”. “This is entirely incorrect. “.”.
