What is ICE
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in 2002 in response to the September 11 attacks as part of a reform of the country's security system.The director of ICE is appointed by the U.S. president, and currently, this position is held by Todd M. Lyons, who has been in office since March 2025.
The main task of ICE is to enforce immigration laws and combat crimes related to border crossings. The agency seeks out illegal migrants, organizes their deportations, and investigates cases of smuggling, document forgery, and international financial crimes.
Recently, ICE's influence has significantly increased, as President Trump advocates for stricter immigration control. The agency employs 20,000 staff members, and its budget is $8 billion—making it the largest federal agency financially in U.S. history.
Reasons for Protests
On January 7, 2026, an ICE agent shot 37-year-old Rene Nicole Good, who, according to official reports, threatened agency personnel with her vehicle.The situation escalated on January 24, when 37-year-old nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretty was shot in the same city. Authorities claimed he was armed, but video footage showed he was only holding a phone.
Preceding Events
Criticism of ICE has intensified since 2025, when reports of raids in public places, educational institutions, and immigration court hearings became known. The practice of separating families and the horrific conditions in which detainees are held, as well as the mass hiring of new employees without proper training, are particularly condemned.In May 2025, Todd Lyons signed a secret memorandum allowing ICE agents to enter private homes without a warrant, based solely on an administrative arrest warrant and a final deportation order. This drew criticism from lawyers who saw it as a violation of the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution.
Many detainees and human rights advocates also reported poor detention conditions, unsanitary conditions, and inadequate access to medical care. According to human rights organizations, 32 people died in detention centers in 2025—the worst figure since 2004, although the agency itself reported 18 deaths. In September 2025, over a hundred detainees in a California center went on a hunger strike, protesting against terrible living conditions, including lack of medical care and poor nutrition. The Department of Homeland Security rejected these accusations.
At the end of December 2025, Trump ordered ICE agents and border patrol to be deployed to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, leading to numerous incidents of violent arrests and mistreatment of detainees.
Formats of Protests
Protests are taking various forms.Activists organized over 200 events in 43 states, according to CNN's count.
In Minneapolis, residents gathered on the beach to form the word "SOS." In a show of solidarity, student organizations and activists held rallies in states such as California, Oregon, Washington, New York, and Texas.
While most protests were peaceful, some escalated into clashes with the police.
Some protesters chose the format of strikes. Café and shop owners closed their establishments, while citizens skipped work shifts and classes. The slogan became "No work, no school, no shopping."
New York University professor Scott Galloway proposed a new protest strategy—an economic boycott instead of strikes. He called for a cancellation of subscriptions to major companies' services in February, arguing that "power fears economic downturns more than protests."
Protest statements were also made at the Grammy Awards. The Spanish-language album by Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny became the first to win the top award. He delivered an emotional speech against Trump's immigration policy, stating: "We are not savages, not animals, but people and Americans."
Billy Eilish, who won the Song of the Year award for "Wildflower," also called for active action: "We must continue to fight and speak out, our voices matter."
Is the Situation Serious?
Amid these events, President Trump's approval rating fell to 38%, the lowest during his term, according to a Reuters and Ipsos poll. In mid-January, it was 41%.Some U.S. citizens are talking about the beginning of a new civil war.
For instance, one user on ZeroHedge in a post suggested recognizing the start of "Civil War 2.0," accompanied by photos of clashes between protesters and police.
Elon Musk reacted to this post, commenting: "Seems so."
Government Response
President Trump instructed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to ensure that ICE and border patrol agents "under no circumstances" interfere with protests in cities governed by Democrats. However, he also noted that federal agents can "easily and methodically" intervene if local authorities request it, as stated in his social media posts.Trump emphasized that the actions of federal agents will be "very strong and tough" to protect federal property: "We will not allow damage to our court buildings or other properties."
He referred to the protesters as "well-paid lunatics and rioters." "I was elected based on border control and national security policies, and that is what America wants," he concluded.
Kristi Noem announced plans to equip all federal immigration agents in Minnesota with body cameras.
Meanwhile, former CNN anchor Don Lemon and independent journalist Georgia Fort were arrested and charged with felonies in connection with reporting on protests against ICE in Minnesota, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
Investigation of Deaths
Following public outrage over Pretty's killing, Trump announced the initiation of a "fair and dignified investigation" into the incident. Congress has already received a preliminary report on the internal investigation.Federal agents involved in the operation during which Pretty was killed have been temporarily suspended, and the possibility of violating citizens' rights and excessive use of force is being examined.
The Hennepin County medical examiner determined that Alex Pretty's death resulted from the actions of another person, clarifying that the term homicide does not always indicate criminal actions.
According to the medical examiner's conclusion, Pretty was shot multiple times by one of the law enforcement officers, as previously reported by the Department of Homeland Security. He died in the hospital; however, no other details are provided in the report.
