The situation in the US state of Minnesota has escalated further over the weekend after a 37-year-old nurse was shot dead during an intervention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis on Saturday.
It was the third ICE-related shooting in three weeks in the city. On January 7, an ICE agent shot and killed a 37-year-old mother of three, and a week later, a Venezuelan man was shot in the leg.
"People are scared. It's also very cold, I think we had minus 24 degrees on Friday. But that doesn't deter people. People are very determined and very angry," says democracy activist Sarah, who does not want to give her last name.
Praises the mayor's speech
As early as Friday, the city's residents had demonstrated against ICE following the developments of recent weeks. Schools were closed and store owners went on strike as a protest against ICE and against US President Donald Trump.
"It was not just a stand taken by the protesters on the street, but also by the business owners. They do not support what ICE is doing to our community," says Sarah.
What do you think will happen next?
"It's hard to know. When Trump was elected president in November 2024, my gut feeling was, 'Now we're going to war.' The question was, 'Where?' Now it feels like it could happen right outside my door, here in Minneapolis."
When TT interviewed Sarah on Saturday afternoon local time, she had just come inside. She says many people in the city, which is estimated to have just under 430,000 inhabitants, are staying at home and that helicopters and drones are hovering overhead.
She pays tribute to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who gave a speech after the shooting.
"He is very clear that ICE does not belong here and that he wants them to leave."
"Really standing up"
On Saturday, federal agents fired tear gas at observers. Democracy activist Sarah is one of the residents who has purchased gas masks to protect herself.
"We buy gas masks and share information with each other online about which one to buy."
She describes how the neighborhood has come together to protect each other.
"The residents of Minneapolis are really standing up and fighting against ICE."
Correction: An earlier version of the text contained incorrect information about who shot the 37-year-old nurse.
