ICE: A Bunch of Cowards Who Terrorize Children

Detention Conditions Denounced as Inhumane

The South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, where Liam and his father are currently being held, is the largest family detention center in the United States. Set on 50 acres in a rural area of South Texas, the center can hold up to 2,400 people, including infants, toddlers, and young children. Although the facility includes amenities for children such as a gym, a library, and classrooms, lawyers and human rights advocates have reported poor detention conditions and expressed serious concerns about the well-being of children who have been uprooted from their daily routines and detained in a detention center for no reason.

The allegations regarding conditions at Dilley are damning. Becky Wolozin, a senior attorney at the National Center for Youth Law, testified on PBS NewsHour that “the current conditions at Dilley are fundamentally dangerous for anyone, and even more so for young children.” According to Wolozin, who visited the center and represented detained families, the most serious problems concern basic needs such as food and water. “We’ve seen and heard a lot about children not receiving age-appropriate food, who were unable to eat what was offered to them,” she explained. “As you mentioned, people have reported vegetables that were moldy or had worms in them. People have fallen ill after meals.”

When I hear about these conditions in Dilley, it makes me sick to my stomach. Moldy food with worms? Water contaminated with mold or algae? Lights left on all night to keep the children from sleeping? This isn’t a detention facility. It’s a prison. It’s a concentration camp for families. And what makes me even sicker is that Liam, that five-year-old boy, is there right now. He’s there, stuck in that horrible place, 1,300 kilometers from his home, without his mother, without his friends, without his routine. How can he understand what’s happening to him? How can he feel safe? ICE is destroying not only his present but also his future. The trauma he’s experiencing now will scar him for the rest of his life.

The Devastating Impact on Children’s Mental Health

Testimonies gathered by lawyers and human rights advocates paint a frightening picture of the effects of detention on children. According to Becky Wolozin, “as children remain in these restrictive and prolonged environments, they really begin to deteriorate. They experience behavioral regressions. One mother explained that her young child, who had previously been cheerful, began hitting her and hitting himself in the face because he was so distraught by the conditions in which they were living.” These behavioral regressions are visible signs of deep and lasting trauma.

The accounts of children who are suffering are particularly heartbreaking. “We’ve just seen children who were otherwise really well-adjusted turn into a constant state of anxiety, sadness, nightmares, and crying every night,” Wolozin continued. “A teenage boy described to me—I mean, a big boy, maybe 16 or 17 years old—that he cries every night as he falls asleep in the detention center where he is held with his father. ” These accounts illustrate the extent of the psychological trauma inflicted on detained children, who suffer from anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders, and who lose their sense of security and stability.

Medical Problems and Lack of Adequate Care

Beyond the precarious living conditions, reports document serious medical issues and a lack of appropriate care for children detained at Dilley. Becky Wolozin emphasized that “we see a lot of problems with just basic health—basic access to necessities.” The most alarming issue concerns children who arrive with dangerous chronic medical conditions that go untreated or are treated improperly. “For example, a child—common childhood illnesses become very dangerous in detention. One child had an earache that developed into such a severe infection that she suffered hearing loss, and she wasn’t really treated for a long time.”

When this child finally received treatment, the antibiotics she was given were extremely strong and caused her a great deal of distress. This is not an isolated case. Lawyers report that many children suffering from chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or epilepsy do not receive the necessary medication or medical care. The lack of appropriate medical care in an already traumatic environment creates a health crisis that endangers the lives and well-being of detained children. These violations of basic standards of care constitute a moral and ethical dereliction of duty on the part of the authorities.

Section 4: The Expansion of the Crackdown on Migrants in Minnesota

Operation Metro Surge and the Wave of Arrests

The arrest of Liam Conejo Ramos should not be viewed as an isolated incident, but rather as part of a massive, coordinated federal operation known as Operation Metro Surge. Thousands of masked and armed federal agents have been deployed to Minnesota as part of this unprecedented operation, tracking down and abducting people from schools, daycare centers, and their homes, and unleashing violence on those who try to protect their neighbors. This operation represents a dramatic escalation of immigration enforcement in Minnesota, which has traditionally been considered a more welcoming state for immigrants.

Columbia Heights Public Schools revealed that Liam is the fourth student in its district to be taken by ICE in the last two weeks alone. But the situation is even more serious. On January 20, the same day Liam was arrested, a 17-year-old student at Columbia Heights High School who was on her way to school was taken away by masked and armed agents, with no parent present, the school district said. “The student was pulled from her car and taken away.” ” The previous week, ICE agents had raided the apartment of another 17-year-old high school student and her mother. Both were detained. Two weeks earlier, a fourth-grade student had been taken away by ICE agents while on her way to school with her mother. The 10-year-old girl is still in a detention center in Texas.

What is happening in Minnesota is a war. A war declared against immigrants, against families, against children. Operation Metro Surge is not a law enforcement operation. It is a campaign of terror. Armed and masked federal agents are storming into schools, daycare centers, and homes. They’re arresting people on their way to work, on their way to school, and on their way to daycare. They spare no one—not even children. They respect no sacred space—not even schools. This is the behavior of a police state, of a military dictatorship. How can we justify federal agents storming schools? How can we justify arresting children on their way to school? This is a fundamental violation of human rights and human dignity.

Renee Good’s Murder Sparks Outrage

The violence unleashed by federal agents as part of Operation Metro Surge reached its peak on January 7, 2026, when an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old poet, Minneapolis resident, and mother of three, as she stood to protect her neighbor during an ICE raid. This murder sent shockwaves through Minnesota and sparked massive outrage and deep despair that served as a rallying cry throughout the state and across the country.

Renee Good was not merely a victim of ICE’s excesses. She had become a symbol of peaceful resistance in the face of federal oppression. Her death highlighted the deadly danger posed by the escalation of immigration enforcement—not only for undocumented immigrants but also for all those who dare to defend their rights. The protests that erupted after her murder quickly expanded to include not only the demand for justice for Renee Good, but also the demand for an immediate end to Operation Metro Surge and the withdrawal of ICE from Minnesota.

Companies Complicit in ICE Operations

ICE operations in Minnesota could not have reached this scale without the active complicity of private companies that provide the necessary logistical support and transportation. The Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport has become a nerve center of the federal crackdown, serving as a “key site in DHS operations to abduct and hastily deport Minnesotans to detention centers,” according to the ICE Out of MN coalition. One estimate indicates that 2,000 people have been deported through MSP Airport, and many people who work there have been taken by ICE while at work or on their way to work.

Two companies in particular are the targets of criticism: Delta Air Lines and Signature Aviation. Delta uses MSP as a major hub, and Signature Aviation provides logistical support for ICE operations. “MSP Airport welcomes tens of millions of travelers each year and is now being used as a key site in DHS operations to seize and hastily deport Minnesotans to detention centers,” states the press release from the ICE Out of MN coalition. These companies’ complicity in ICE operations has led to calls for them to “publicly call for an immediate end to ICE’s crackdown in Minnesota and for ICE to leave the state; to hold the agent who killed Good accountable; to publicly call on Congress to stop funding ICE ,” and to ensure that Target stores deny entry to any agent who does not have “signed warrants.”

Section 5: The Minnesota General Strike

A Historic Day of Strike Action Against ICE

On January 23, 2026, Minnesota witnessed an unprecedented day of strikes and work stoppages against ICE, dubbed “ICE Out of Minnesota: A Day of Truth & Freedom.” Tens of thousands of Minnesotans marched through downtown Minneapolis chanting “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here” to demand that ICE leave the state. Organizers estimate that 50,000 people or more took to the streets, although some estimates are lower and others as high as 100,000. The crowds were apparently undeterred by sub-zero temperatures.

Feben Ghilagaber, an airport food service worker and UNITE HERE Local 17 steward, described the scale of the mobilization: “Oh my God, today is incredible, overwhelming, and very powerful. It was bigger than I expected—much bigger. I was a little worried about the weather, but everyone showed up.” According to Ghilagaber, “many” airport workers in her union did not go to work today to support the strike, with many of them calling in sick. This massive turnout demonstrates the community’s level of outrage and determination in the face of the federal assault.

When I see the images of this strike in Minnesota, I feel a mix of hope and sadness. Hope, because tens of thousands of people took to the streets in freezing temperatures to say “enough.” To say that it’s not right to stop children on their way to school. To say that it’s not acceptable for federal agents to kill mothers who are defending their neighbors. To say that we will not remain silent in the face of this injustice. But I also feel sadness. Sadness because things have come to this. Sadness because a general strike has to be organized to defend the most basic human rights. Sadness because the federal government has declared war on its own people. But this strike also gives me hope. It shows me that resistance is possible. That solidarity can overcome fear.

The Arrest of 100 Religious Leaders

A particularly poignant moment of the strike day was the act of civil disobedience carried out by about 100 religious leaders who blocked a key road at Terminal 1 Departures at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport on Friday morning. The clergy chanted, “Before this campaign fails, we’ll all go to jail—everyone has the right to live,” and held signs showing abducted members of UNITE HERE Local 17, while a crowd of thousands of supporters sang and chanted.

The civil disobedience by Minnesota’s religious leaders led to the arrest of approximately 100 clergy members who engaged in an act of civil disobedience by blocking a key road at Terminal 1 departures at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport on Friday morning, according to the ICE Out of MN coalition. The clergy, according to a statement from the coalition, were arrested for their role in the “statewide work stoppage [ICE Out of Minnesota: A Day of Truth & Freedom].” Katrina Zabriskie, 22, just watched as her mother, a Minnesota-based chaplain, was arrested. “It was really moving,” she said. “When the crowd started chanting ‘We love you,’ I started crying. Above all, I’m really, really proud.” These arrests were hailed as a powerful testament to faith in action and moral commitment in the face of injustice.

Massive Union Participation

The Minnesota strike was marked by massive and unprecedented union participation, reflecting a broad and diverse coalition between the labor movement and immigrant rights advocates. SEIU Local 26, which represents more than 8,000 janitors, window cleaners, and other property services workers in the state, “lost more than 20 members due to these abductions by federal agents—often without warning, often without due process,” said union president Greg Nammacher at a press conference on January 19. “The strategy of federal agents,” he added, “is to tear families apart, to make loved ones disappear—leaving family members who, for hours and days, often have no idea where their relatives are and often lack access to legal counsel.”

UNITE HERE Local 17, which represents more than 6,000 hospitality workers in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, has also been hit hard. About sixteen members of this union were recently abducted, and the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport has become a site of repeated abductions of both union and non-union workers. Sheigh Freeberg, secretary-treasurer of Local 17, stated at a press conference on January 9 inside Terminal 1: “Uber drivers are constantly being harassed and abducted, leaving abandoned cars behind, with their families completely unaware of where they are.” She added: “UNITE HERE Local 17 members working at the airport have been taken away behind TSA checkpoints, and ICE raids have increased—sometimes twice a day.”

Section 6: The Broader Implications for America

The Threat to All Americans

Although ICE operations in Minnesota have primarily targeted immigrant communities, they pose a threat to all Americans, regardless of their immigration status. Greg Nammacher, president of SEIU Local 26, emphasized this crucial point: “But it’s not just immigrant workers who are affected.” Nammacher pointed out that “if the stated goal is to help U.S.-born workers secure higher wages—which we’re sometimes told—it has had the opposite effect.” ” This observation underscores that the Trump administration’s immigration policies actually benefit employers who can exploit the fear and vulnerability of workers, whether they are immigrants or U.S.-born.

A commercial electrician and member of IBEW Local 292, who was holding a sign reading “The general strike is a path to justice” during the march, summed up this concern: “I mean, ICE is just deplorable. And I mean, anyone could find themselves in the path of ICE agents. It simply undermines our own civil rights.” This statement captures a growing awareness among U.S.-born Americans that draconian immigration policies and ICE’s aggressive enforcement tactics pose a direct threat to the civil liberties and constitutional rights of everyone.

What is happening in Minnesota is not just a crisis of immigrant rights. It is a crisis of American democracy. It is a crisis of civil rights. It is a crisis of the rule of law. When the federal government can arrest people without a warrant, raid homes without a court order, and kill citizens who are defending their neighbors, no one is safe. Not immigrants. Not citizens. Not white people. Not Black people. Not the rich. Not the poor. No one. ICE’s tactics today target immigrants, but tomorrow they could target anyone. Union members. Journalists. Activists. Political opponents. Anyone who dares to challenge those in power. That is what is at stake. Not just the rights of immigrants. But the fundamental rights of all Americans.

The Normalization of State Violence

The events in Minnesota represent a dangerous normalization of state violence against vulnerable communities. The use of military force against civilians, mass arrests, the abduction of people from their homes, workplaces, and schools, the use of children as bait, the murder of residents defending their rights—all these tactics were once associated with authoritarian and dictatorial regimes. Today, they are being openly deployed in American cities, with the approval and support of the federal government.

This normalization of state violence is particularly troubling because it erodes democratic norms and sets a dangerous precedent for the future. If the government can justify using these tactics against immigrants today, what will prevent it from using them against other groups tomorrow? Political activists? Protesters? Journalists? Government opponents? History teaches us that the erosion of rights often begins with the marginalization of a particular group but then spreads to affect society as a whole. The events in Minnesota are a clear warning that the civil liberties and constitutional rights of all Americans are at risk.

The Complicity of Institutions and Corporations

ICE’s ability to carry out these large-scale operations in Minnesota depends on the active complicity of various institutions and private companies. Schools, hospitals, churches, and other institutions that share information with ICE or allow agents access to their premises facilitate arrests and abductions. Airlines such as Delta and aviation service companies such as Signature Aviation, which provide logistical support for ICE operations and deportation flights, make the mass deportation of thousands of people possible.

But complicity goes further. Businesses that continue to operate as usual during ICE operations—that fail to protect their employees from arrest and deportation, and that do not take a stand against ICE abuses—are also complicit. The Minnesota strike showed that businesses can be forced to take a stand through community pressure. More than 700 businesses in Minnesota have pledged to close on January 23, 2026, in solidarity with the strike—many of them because they were pressured by workers and other community members. This mobilization demonstrates that complicity is not inevitable and that businesses and institutions can be held accountable for their role in facilitating ICE’s violence.

Section 7: Political Reactions and Electoral Issues

The Trump Administration’s Defense

Faced with nationwide outrage over the arrest of Liam Conejo Ramos, the Trump administration and its political allies sought to justify ICE’s actions. During a visit to Minneapolis on Thursday, January 22, Vice President JD Vance defended the agents’ actions, stating: “I’m the father of a five-year-old—actually, a little five-year-old boy—and I find myself thinking, ‘Oh my God, this is terrible. How did we end up arresting a five-year-old?’” Vance then asked, “The story is that ICE detained a five-year-old. Well, what are they supposed to do? Are they supposed to let a five-year-old freeze to death? Aren’t they supposed to arrest an illegal alien in the United States of America?”

This defense by the administration is based on several false premises. First, it assumes that Liam’s father was an “illegal alien” who needed to be arrested, which is disputed by the family’s attorney. Second, it suggests that Liam would have been left alone to freeze to death if the agents hadn’t taken him away, which is contradicted by witnesses who claim that Liam’s mother was inside the house and that neighbors were willing to look after the child. Third, she portrays ICE as a benevolent force that rescued the child from a dangerous situation, which contradicts allegations that agents used Liam as bait to lure his mother out.

When I hear JD Vance’s justifications, I feel a cold anger. He’s trying to make us believe that ICE saved Liam. That ICE was forced to take him away to protect him from the cold. That’s a lie. A cynical and calculated lie. Liam didn’t need to be saved. He had a mother inside the house. He had neighbors who were willing to take care of him. He wasn’t in danger. The danger was ICE. What happened was not a rescue. It was a kidnapping. And Vance is trying to portray it as an act of kindness, as a necessary action to protect a child. It’s obscene. It’s manipulation. It’s a perfect example of how the Trump administration distorts reality to justify the unjustifiable.

Reactions from the Democratic Party

The Democratic Party’s reactions to the events in Minnesota have been mixed, reflecting internal tensions within the party on the issue of immigration. Some Democrats have strongly condemned ICE’s actions, calling for an investigation into the killing of Renee Good and demanding the release of Liam Conejo Ramos and his father. Others have taken a more cautious approach, emphasizing the need to uphold the law while expressing concern about ICE’s tactics and the treatment of children.

This division within the Democratic Party reflects a broader debate over immigration policy in America. On one side are those who advocate for a more humane and compassionate approach to immigration—one that recognizes immigrants’ contributions to American society and opposes ICE’s draconian tactics. On the other side are those who fear that too strong an opposition to the enforcement of immigration laws could be politically costly and who prefer to focus on legislative reforms rather than condemning ICE’s actions.

The Implications for the Midterm Elections

The events in Minnesota have significant implications for the 2026 midterm elections. The Trump administration’s handling of immigration and ICE’s tactics are likely to be major campaign issues, with potential repercussions for races across the country. For Democrats, the events in Minnesota offer an opportunity to mobilize their base and attract moderate voters who are concerned about ICE’s draconian tactics and the treatment of immigrant families.

For Republicans, the situation is more complex. On the one hand, the Republican base has largely supported the Trump administration’s tough immigration policies and appreciated its zero-tolerance approach to illegal immigration. On the other hand, images of children being arrested on their way to school and mothers killed by federal agents risk damaging the Republican Party’s image and creating divisions within President Trump’s electoral coalition. The 2026 midterm elections will likely be a major test of the political impact of the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

Section 8: Lessons from Minnesota

The Power of Community Mobilization

The Minnesota general strike on January 23, 2026, demonstrated the extraordinary power of community mobilization in the face of injustice. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in freezing temperatures to demand that ICE leave the state. Hundreds of businesses closed in solidarity with the strike. Hundreds of religious leaders courageously risked arrest to express their opposition. Unions across the state joined the call for a strike, reflecting a broad and diverse coalition between the labor movement and immigrant rights advocates.

This massive mobilization was not spontaneous. It was the result of weeks of organizing and coalition-building among community groups, unions, religious organizations, and immigrant rights advocates. The success of the Minnesota strike shows that it is possible to build broad and inclusive movements that transcend traditional divisions and unite people around common goals. It also demonstrates that civil disobedience and economic disobedience can be powerful tools for resisting injustice and forcing change.

The Importance of Intercommunity Solidarity

One of the most remarkable features of the mobilization in Minnesota was the intercommunity solidarity between immigrants and non-immigrants, between unionized and non-unionized workers, and between religious and secular communities. This solidarity was essential to the strike’s success and sent a powerful message that the struggle for immigrants’ rights is a struggle for the rights of all.

Feben Ghilagaber, a member of UNITE Here Local 17, summed up this solidarity: “Many workers in Minnesota won’t be going to work on Friday because they’re in hiding from federal immigration agents. Those who do come out are a voice for those in hiding. ” This recognition that immigrants’ struggles are linked to the struggles of all workers and all communities is fundamental to building effective and sustainable movements. It demonstrates that defending immigrants’ rights is not a matter of charity or pity, but a matter of justice and solidarity.

What happened in Minnesota on January 23 is a ray of hope in a dark world. It is a powerful demonstration of what is possible when people unite to defend justice. Thousands of people who had never participated in a protest or strike before stood up and said “enough.” Businesses closed. Unions joined the struggle. Religious leaders risked arrest. It’s beautiful. It’s inspiring. It’s a reminder that even in the face of a force as powerful as the federal government, ordinary people have the power to resist and change the course of events. The Minnesota strike gives me hope. It shows me that even in the darkest moments, the light of solidarity can shine.

The Need for Long-Term Resistance Strategies

Although the Minnesota strike was an impressive success, it also highlighted the need for long-term resistance strategies to confront the ongoing assault by ICE and the Trump administration’s draconian immigration policies. A strike, even a massive one, cannot on its own stop Operation Metro Surge or force ICE to leave the state. It must be followed by organized and sustained resistance that keeps pressure on the authorities and creates the conditions for meaningful change.

This long-term resistance can take many forms: ongoing public awareness campaigns, legal actions to challenge ICE abuses, boycott campaigns against companies that facilitate ICE operations, pressure on elected officials to take a stand against ICE abuses, and the building of support networks for families affected by ICE operations. The key is to transform the outrage sparked by events such as the arrest of Liam Conejo Ramos and the murder of Renee Good into an organized and sustainable movement capable of withstanding the federal assault over the long term.

Conclusion: The Face of America Today

The Choice Facing America

The events in Minnesota have highlighted a fundamental choice facing America today: will we be a nation that respects human dignity and the rights of all, or will we be a nation that permits and tolerates the abduction of children, the separation of families, and the murder of citizens who defend their neighbors? The answer to this question will determine not only the fate of immigrant communities, but also the future of American democracy itself.

The arrest of Liam Conejo Ramos, the five-year-old boy detained on his way to school, is not just a sad story. It is a symbol. It is the face of America today. It is the face of a nation that has lost its moral compass. It is the face of a nation that normalizes cruelty toward the most vulnerable. But it is also the face of a nation that is resisting. Of a nation that is rising up. Of a nation that is saying “enough.” The question today is not just what the Trump administration will do next. The question is what we, the American people, will do next. Will we accept this new normal? Or will we stand up and say no?

When I think of Liam, that five-year-old boy with his Spider-Man backpack, my heart breaks. But when I think of the thousands of people who took to the streets in Minnesota to defend his rights, my heart heals a little. Because it shows me that despite everything—despite the cruelty, despite the injustice—there is still hope. There are still people who care. There are still people who refuse to accept the unacceptable. ICE may be a bunch of cowards who terrorize children. But Minnesota has shown that there are also brave people. People who are willing to risk everything to stand up for what’s right. And that’s the true face of America. Not the masked agents who arrest children on their way to school. But the thousands of people who take to the streets to say that this is not acceptable. That’s the America I want to live in. That’s the America I want to fight for.

Operation Metro Surge and the Wave of Arrests

The arrest of Liam Conejo Ramos should not be viewed as an isolated incident, but rather as part of a massive, coordinated federal operation known as Operation Metro Surge. Thousands of federal agents, masked and armed, have been deployed to Minnesota as part of this unprecedented operation, tracking down and abducting people from schools, daycare centers, and their homes, and unleashing violence on those who try to protect their neighbors. This operation represents a dramatic escalation of immigration enforcement in Minnesota, which has traditionally been considered a more welcoming state for immigrants.

Columbia Heights Public Schools revealed that Liam is the fourth student in its district to be taken by ICE in the last two weeks alone. But the situation is even more serious. On January 20, the same day Liam was arrested, a 17-year-old student at Columbia Heights High School who was on her way to school was taken away by masked and armed agents, with no parent present, the school district said. “The student was pulled from her car and taken away.” ” The previous week, ICE agents had raided the apartment of another 17-year-old high school student and her mother. Both were detained. Two weeks earlier, a fourth-grade student had been taken away by ICE agents while on her way to school with her mother. The 10-year-old girl is still in a detention center in Texas.

What is happening in Minnesota is a war. A war declared against immigrants, against families, against children. Operation Metro Surge is not a law enforcement operation. It is a campaign of terror. Armed and masked federal agents are storming into schools, daycare centers, and homes. They’re arresting people on their way to work, on their way to school, and on their way to daycare. They spare no one, not even children. They respect no sacred space, not even schools. This is the behavior of a police state, of a military dictatorship. How can we justify federal agents storming schools? How can we justify arresting children on their way to school? This is a fundamental violation of human rights and human dignity.

Renee Good’s Murder Sparks Outrage

The violence unleashed by federal agents as part of Operation Metro Surge reached its peak on January 7, 2026, when an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old poet, Minneapolis resident, and mother of three, as she stood to protect her neighbor during an ICE raid. This murder sent shockwaves through Minnesota and sparked massive outrage and deep despair that served as a rallying cry throughout the state and across the country.

Renee Good was not merely a victim of ICE’s excesses. She had become a symbol of peaceful resistance in the face of federal oppression. Her death highlighted the deadly danger posed by the escalation of immigration enforcement—not only for undocumented immigrants but also for all those who dare to defend their rights. The protests that erupted after her murder quickly expanded to include not only the demand for justice for Renee Good, but also the demand for an immediate end to Operation Metro Surge and the withdrawal of ICE from Minnesota.

Companies Complicit in ICE Operations

ICE operations in Minnesota could not have reached this scale without the active complicity of private companies that provide the necessary logistical support and transportation. The Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport has become a nerve center of the federal crackdown, serving as a “key site in DHS operations to abduct and hastily deport Minnesotans to detention centers,” according to the ICE Out of MN coalition. One estimate indicates that 2,000 people have been deported through MSP Airport, and many people who work there have been taken by ICE while at work or on their way to work.

Two companies in particular are the targets of criticism: Delta Air Lines and Signature Aviation. Delta uses MSP as a major hub, and Signature Aviation provides logistical support for ICE operations. “MSP Airport welcomes tens of millions of travelers each year and is now being used as a key site in DHS operations to seize and hastily deport Minnesotans to detention centers,” states the press release from the ICE Out of MN coalition. These companies’ complicity in ICE operations has led to calls for them to “publicly call for an immediate end to ICE’s crackdown in Minnesota and for ICE to leave the state; to hold the agent who killed Good accountable; to publicly call on Congress to stop funding ICE ,” and to ensure that Target stores deny entry to any agent who does not have “signed warrants.”

A Historic Day of Strikes Against ICE

On January 23, 2026, Minnesota witnessed an unprecedented day of strikes and walkouts against ICE, dubbed “ICE Out of Minnesota: A Day of Truth & Freedom.” Tens of thousands of Minnesotans marched through downtown Minneapolis chanting “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here” to demand that ICE leave the state. Organizers estimate that 50,000 people or more took to the streets, although some estimates are lower and others as high as 100,000. The crowds were apparently undeterred by sub-zero temperatures.

Feben Ghilagaber, an airport food service worker and UNITE HERE Local 17 steward, described the scale of the mobilization: “Oh my God, today is incredible, overwhelming, and very powerful. It was bigger than I expected—much bigger. I was a little worried about the weather, but everyone showed up.” According to Ghilagaber, “many” airport workers in her union did not go to work today to support the strike, with many of them calling in sick. This massive turnout demonstrates the community’s level of outrage and determination in the face of the federal assault.

When I see the images of this strike in Minnesota, I feel a mix of hope and sadness. Hope, because tens of thousands of people took to the streets in freezing temperatures to say “enough.” To say that it’s not right to stop children on their way to school. To say that it’s not acceptable for federal agents to kill mothers who are defending their neighbors. To say that we will not remain silent in the face of this injustice. But I also feel sadness. Sadness because things have come to this. Sadness because a general strike has to be organized to defend the most basic human rights. Sadness because the federal government has declared war on its own people. But this strike also gives me hope. It shows me that resistance is possible. That solidarity can overcome fear.

The Arrest of 100 Religious Leaders

A particularly poignant moment of the strike day was the act of civil disobedience carried out by about 100 religious leaders who blocked a key road at Terminal 1 Departures at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport on Friday morning. The clergy chanted, “Before this campaign fails, we’ll all go to jail—everyone has the right to live,” and held signs showing abducted members of UNITE HERE Local 17, while a crowd of thousands of supporters sang and chanted.

The civil disobedience by Minnesota’s religious leaders led to the arrest of approximately 100 clergy members who engaged in an act of civil disobedience by blocking a key road at Terminal 1 departures at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport on Friday morning, according to the ICE Out of MN coalition. The clergy, according to a statement from the coalition, were arrested for their role in the “statewide work stoppage [ICE Out of Minnesota: A Day of Truth & Freedom].” Katrina Zabriskie, 22, just watched as her mother, a Minnesota-based chaplain, was arrested. “It was really moving,” she said. “When the crowd started chanting ‘We love you,’ I started crying. Above all, I’m really, really proud.” These arrests were hailed as a powerful testament to faith in action and moral commitment in the face of injustice.

Massive Union Participation

The Minnesota strike was marked by massive and unprecedented union participation, reflecting a broad and diverse coalition between the labor movement and immigrant rights advocates. SEIU Local 26, which represents more than 8,000 janitors, window cleaners, and other property services workers in the state, “lost more than 20 members due to these abductions by federal agents—often without warning, often without due process,” said union president Greg Nammacher at a press conference on January 19. “The strategy of federal agents,” he added, “is to tear families apart, to make loved ones disappear—leaving family members who, for hours and days, often have no idea where their relatives are and often lack access to legal counsel.”

UNITE HERE Local 17, which represents more than 6,000 hospitality workers in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, has also been hit hard. About sixteen members of this union were recently abducted, and the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport has become a site of repeated abductions of both union and non-union workers. Sheigh Freeberg, secretary-treasurer of Local 17, stated during a press conference on January 9 inside Terminal 1: “Uber drivers are constantly being harassed and abducted, leaving cars abandoned behind them, with their families completely unaware of where they are.” She added: “UNITE HERE Local 17 members working at the airport have been taken away behind TSA checkpoints, and ICE raids have increased—sometimes twice a day.”

The Threat to All Americans

Although ICE operations in Minnesota have primarily targeted immigrant communities, they pose a threat to all Americans, regardless of their immigration status. Greg Nammacher, president of SEIU Local 26, emphasized this crucial point: “But it’s not just immigrant workers who are affected.” Nammacher pointed out that “if the stated goal is to help U.S.-born workers earn higher wages—which we’re sometimes told—it has had the opposite effect.” ” This observation underscores that the Trump administration’s immigration policies actually benefit employers who can exploit the fear and vulnerability of workers, whether they are immigrants or U.S.-born.

A commercial electrician and member of IBEW Local 292, who was holding a sign reading “The general strike is a path to justice” during the march, summed up this concern: “I mean, ICE is just deplorable. And I mean, anyone could find themselves in the path of ICE agents. It simply undermines our own civil rights.” This statement captures a growing awareness among U.S.-born Americans that draconian immigration policies and ICE’s aggressive enforcement tactics pose a direct threat to the civil liberties and constitutional rights of everyone.

What is happening in Minnesota is not just a crisis of immigrant rights. It is a crisis of American democracy. It is a crisis of civil rights. It is a crisis of the rule of law. When the federal government can arrest people without a warrant, raid homes without a court order, and kill citizens who are defending their neighbors, no one is safe. Not immigrants. Not citizens. Not white people. Not Black people. Not the rich. Not the poor. No one. ICE’s tactics today target immigrants, but tomorrow they could target anyone. Union members. Journalists. Activists. Political opponents. Anyone who dares to challenge those in power. That is what is at stake. Not just the rights of immigrants. But the fundamental rights of all Americans.

The Normalization of State Violence

The events in Minnesota represent a dangerous normalization of state violence against vulnerable communities. The use of military force against civilians, mass arrests, the abduction of people from their homes, workplaces, and schools, the use of children as bait, the murder of residents defending their rights—all these tactics were once associated with authoritarian and dictatorial regimes. Today, they are being openly deployed in American cities, with the approval and support of the federal government.

This normalization of state violence is particularly troubling because it erodes democratic norms and sets a dangerous precedent for the future. If the government can justify using these tactics against immigrants today, what will prevent it from using them against other groups tomorrow? Political activists? Protesters? Journalists? Government opponents? History teaches us that the erosion of rights often begins with the marginalization of a particular group but then spreads to affect society as a whole. The events in Minnesota are a clear warning that the civil liberties and constitutional rights of all Americans are at risk.

The Complicity of Institutions and Corporations

ICE’s ability to carry out these large-scale operations in Minnesota depends on the active complicity of various institutions and private companies. Schools, hospitals, churches, and other institutions that share information with ICE or allow agents access to their premises facilitate arrests and abductions. Airlines such as Delta and aviation service companies such as Signature Aviation, which provide logistical support for ICE operations and deportation flights, make the mass deportation of thousands of people possible.

But complicity goes further. Businesses that continue to operate as usual during ICE operations—that fail to protect their employees from arrest and deportation, and that do not take a stand against ICE abuses—are also complicit. The Minnesota strike showed that businesses can be forced to take a stand through community pressure. More than 700 businesses in Minnesota have pledged to close on January 23, 2026, in solidarity with the strike—many of them because they were pressured by workers and other community members. This mobilization demonstrates that complicity is not inevitable and that businesses and institutions can be held accountable for their role in facilitating ICE’s violence.

The Trump Administration’s Defense

Faced with nationwide outrage over the arrest of Liam Conejo Ramos, the Trump administration and its political allies have sought to justify ICE’s actions. During a visit to Minneapolis on Thursday, January 22, Vice President JD Vance defended the agents’ actions, stating: “I’m the father of a five-year-old—actually, a little five-year-old boy—and I think to myself, ‘Oh my God, this is terrible. How did we end up arresting a five-year-old?’” Vance then asked, “The story is that ICE detained a five-year-old. Well, what are they supposed to do? Are they supposed to let a five-year-old freeze to death? Aren’t they supposed to arrest an illegal alien in the United States of America?”

This defense by the administration is based on several false premises. First, it assumes that Liam’s father was an “illegal alien” who needed to be arrested, which is disputed by the family’s attorney. Second, it suggests that Liam would have been left alone to freeze to death if the agents hadn’t taken him away, which is contradicted by witnesses who claim that Liam’s mother was inside the house and that neighbors were willing to look after the child. Third, she portrays ICE as a benevolent force that rescued the child from a dangerous situation, which contradicts allegations that agents used Liam as bait to lure his mother out.

When I hear JD Vance’s justifications, I feel a cold anger. He’s trying to make us believe that ICE saved Liam. That ICE was forced to take him away to protect him from the cold. That’s a lie. A cynical and calculated lie. Liam didn’t need to be saved. He had a mother inside the house. He had neighbors who were willing to take care of him. He wasn’t in danger. The danger was ICE. What happened was not a rescue. It was a kidnapping. And Vance is trying to portray it as an act of kindness, as a necessary action to protect a child. It’s obscene. It’s manipulation. It’s a perfect example of how the Trump administration distorts reality to justify the unjustifiable.

Reactions from the Democratic Party

The Democratic Party’s reactions to the events in Minnesota have been mixed, reflecting internal tensions within the party on the issue of immigration. Some Democrats have strongly condemned ICE’s actions, calling for an investigation into the killing of Renee Good and demanding the release of Liam Conejo Ramos and his father. Others have taken a more cautious approach, emphasizing the need to uphold the law while expressing concern about ICE’s tactics and the treatment of children.

This division within the Democratic Party reflects a broader debate over immigration policy in America. On one side are those who advocate for a more humane and compassionate approach to immigration—one that recognizes immigrants’ contributions to American society and opposes ICE’s draconian tactics. On the other side are those who fear that too strong an opposition to the enforcement of immigration laws could be politically costly and who prefer to focus on legislative reforms rather than condemning ICE’s actions.

The Implications for the Midterm Elections

The events in Minnesota have significant implications for the 2026 midterm elections. The Trump administration’s handling of immigration and ICE’s tactics are likely to be major campaign issues, with potential repercussions for races across the country. For Democrats, the events in Minnesota offer an opportunity to mobilize their base and attract moderate voters who are concerned about ICE’s draconian tactics and the treatment of immigrant families.

For Republicans, the situation is more complex. On the one hand, the Republican base has largely supported the Trump administration’s tough immigration policies and appreciated its zero-tolerance approach to illegal immigration. On the other hand, images of children being arrested on their way to school and mothers killed by federal agents risk damaging the Republican Party’s image and creating divisions within President Trump’s electoral coalition. The 2026 midterm elections will likely be a major test of the political impact of the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

The Power of Community Mobilization

The Minnesota general strike on January 23, 2026, demonstrated the extraordinary power of community mobilization in the face of injustice. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in freezing temperatures to demand that ICE leave the state. Hundreds of businesses closed in solidarity with the strike. Hundreds of religious leaders courageously risked arrest to express their opposition. Unions across the state joined the call for a strike, reflecting a broad and diverse coalition between the labor movement and immigrant rights advocates.

This massive mobilization was not spontaneous. It was the result of weeks of organizing and coalition-building among community groups, unions, religious organizations, and immigrant rights advocates. The success of the Minnesota strike shows that it is possible to build broad and inclusive movements that transcend traditional divisions and unite people around common goals. It also demonstrates that civil disobedience and economic disobedience can be powerful tools for resisting injustice and forcing change.

The Importance of Intercommunity Solidarity

One of the most remarkable features of the mobilization in Minnesota was the intercommunity solidarity between immigrants and non-immigrants, between unionized and non-unionized workers, and between religious and secular communities. This solidarity was essential to the strike’s success and sent a powerful message that the struggle for immigrants’ rights is a struggle for everyone’s rights.

Feben Ghilagaber, a member of UNITE Here Local 17, summed up this solidarity: “Many workers in Minnesota won’t be going to work on Friday because they’re in hiding from federal immigration agents. Those who do come out are a voice for those in hiding. ” This recognition that immigrants’ struggles are linked to the struggles of all workers and all communities is fundamental to building effective and sustainable movements. It demonstrates that defending immigrants’ rights is not a matter of charity or pity, but a matter of justice and solidarity.

What happened in Minnesota on January 23 is a ray of hope in a dark world. It is a powerful demonstration of what is possible when people unite to defend justice. Thousands of people who had never participated in a protest or strike before stood up and said “enough.” Businesses closed. Unions joined the struggle. Religious leaders risked arrest. It’s beautiful. It’s inspiring. It’s a reminder that even in the face of a force as powerful as the federal government, ordinary people have the power to resist and change the course of events. The Minnesota strike gives me hope. It shows me that even in the darkest moments, the light of solidarity can shine.

The Need for Long-Term Resistance Strategies

Although the Minnesota strike was an impressive success, it also highlighted the need for long-term resistance strategies to confront the ongoing assault by ICE and the Trump administration’s draconian immigration policies. A strike, even a massive one, cannot on its own stop Operation Metro Surge or force ICE to leave the state. It must be followed by organized and sustained resistance that keeps pressure on the authorities and creates the conditions for meaningful change.

This long-term resistance can take many forms: ongoing public awareness campaigns, legal actions to challenge ICE abuses, boycott campaigns against companies that facilitate ICE operations, pressure on elected officials to take a stand against ICE abuses, and the building of support networks for families affected by ICE operations. The key is to transform the outrage sparked by events such as the arrest of Liam Conejo Ramos and the murder of Renee Good into an organized and sustainable movement capable of withstanding the federal assault over the long term.

The Choice Facing America

The events in Minnesota have highlighted a fundamental choice facing America today: Will we be a nation that respects human dignity and the rights of all, or will we be a nation that permits and tolerates the abduction of children, the separation of families, and the murder of citizens who defend their neighbors? The answer to this question will determine not only the fate of immigrant communities, but also the future of American democracy itself.

The arrest of Liam Conejo Ramos, the five-year-old boy detained on his way to school, is not just a sad story. It is a symbol. It is the face of America today. It is the face of a nation that has lost its moral compass. It is the face of a nation that normalizes cruelty toward the most vulnerable. But it is also the face of a nation that is resisting. Of a nation that is rising up. Of a nation that is saying “enough.” The question today is not just what the Trump administration will do next. The question is what we, the American people, will do next. Will we accept this new normal? Or will we stand up and say no?

When I think of Liam, that five-year-old boy with his Spider-Man backpack, my heart breaks. But when I think of the thousands of people who took to the streets in Minnesota to defend his rights, my heart heals a little. Because it shows me that despite everything—despite the cruelty, despite the injustice—there is still hope. There are still people who care. There are still people who refuse to accept the unacceptable. ICE may be a bunch of cowards who terrorize children. But Minnesota has shown that there are also brave people. People who are willing to risk everything to stand up for what’s right. And that’s the true face of America. Not the masked agents who arrest children on their way to school. But the thousands of people who take to the streets to say that this is not acceptable. That’s the America I want to live in. That’s the America I want to fight for.