Federal Immigration Crackdown Incites Fear, Killings, and Civil Protests
January 26, 2026—The United States is on the brink of a national crisis and a government shutdown after the second killing by gunfire of an American citizen by federal forces. Conflict over immigration in the United States is adding to the pressures of growing inequality, corruption, and a national debt above $38 trillion. Tensions are rising due to the deployment of federal forces in U.S. cities who are now targeting U.S. citizens as well as immigrants.
‘Under Siege and Occupation’
Citizens in some cities and states report across social media that they feel under siege or occupation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Minneapolis, Minnesota—the same city where George Floyd was murdered by police, sparking widespread riots in 2020—is the pinnacle place where President Donald Trump is cracking down on immigration. Thousands of federal forces are stationed there and in St. Paul, its twin city. Tensions are mounting between civilians and federal forces. Two citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, are dead after federal forces shot them multiple times. Other citizens are getting swept up in detention, tear gas, and tense scenes.
Chaotic Clashes
A New York Times photographer describes the chaotic scene of federal forces attacking protestors with tear gas and physical violence after the killing of Pretti. He compared the chaotic scenes in Minneapolis to war zones he has covered abroad: masked men, military uniforms, weapons, and tear gas.
“One man was walking with his hands up, chanting. A couple of dozen federal agents started running down the middle of the street chasing him. He tried to run, and they tackled him in the street,” said David Guttenfelder.
Legal Battles
Trump issued grand jury subpoenas against a series of political leaders in the state, including Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and four other officials. It is viewed by many observers to be part of a larger targeted of political opponents using the Justice Department.
Minnesota and its cities are fighting back. In a lawsuit against the Homeland Security Department, the state is asking a Federal District Court for a restraining order to block the department’s campaign known as Operation Metro Surge. They assert it violates state sovereignty under the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
In a proceeding today, Judge Kate Menendez asked Trump’s lawyer whether the surge in federal forces was about immigration enforcement or “political retribution and coercion.” She called the circumstances in the state “shockingly unusual times” and expressed uncertainty about the decision she faces. See the NYT reporting for more on the hearing.
However, lawyers for DHS insisted federal agents were in the state to enforce federal law.
A look at the case log shows that the Minnesota court is filled with immigration-related cases. Most relate to alleged violations of Habeas Corpus.
Habeas corpus, Latin for “you have the body,” is a fundamental constitutional right against unlawful detention in the United States. It requires authorities to justify their reasons for imprisoning an individual in a court of law, allowing prisoners to challenge their confinement through a petition. The purpose of habeas corpus is to prevent arbitrary imprisonment and ensure due process.
See how other U.S. courts are handling cases on Habeas Corpus.
Political Retribution
Over the weekend, Trump’s Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to the state accusing leaders of refusing to enforce immigration law and enacting sanctuary policies benefitting immigrants. But what also raised suspicions was that Bondi demanded access to “voter rolls.”
Minnesota elections are a key factor in the upcoming November 2026 elections. The state has a U.S. Senate seat up for grabs.
Government Shutdown Likely
The issue is front and center in Congress, where funding for ICE and CBP is decided. Though the branch of government is largely dysfunctional, due in part to the Republican party’s subservience to Trump, the legislative branch still handles spending decisions.
If the Senate does not pass a $1.2 trillion package of funding bills by Friday, the nation could face a partial government shutdown. It would be the second government shutdown in months. Democrats and others say they won’t fund DHS until accountability over immigration enforcement is addressed.
Broken Immigration System
The country is polarized, primarily over the broken immigration system and the government’s responses to it. Pew Research found that the number of unauthorized immigrants entering the country reached a record high of 14 million in 2023. Pew assessed that a little over half of those immigrants, about 8 million, did not have legal protections against deportation. Others, such as those seeking asylum, had legal protections. As the GER reported in 2023, immigration is the most emotionally charged issue in the country.
The wave of unregulated migration during President Joe Biden’s term in office was a significant factor in Trump’s 2024 electoral success. Trump ran on a platform of cracking down on immigration. But now, in the wake of the crackdown against immigration, legal residents are also getting swept into detention centers, known for their deplorable conditions. By January, ICE detention hit a record high of 73,000 people, according to the American Immigration Council.
Reaction: ‘United States is a Tinderbox’
Businesses, politicians, and investors are responding to the tensions, including the killing of U.S. citizens.
“The United States is now a tinderbox,” said Ray Dalio, a global investor and founder of Bridgewater Associates.In a post on X, Dalio warned of civil conflict. Dalio has been warning of civil conflict in the United States for years, which he relates to larger questions of financial instability and the breakdown of a rules-based order.
Also posting on X, former President Barack Obama said Trump and his administration “seem eager to escalate the situation.”
“It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.”
Update on U.S. Immigration Policies: ICE detention has continued at historically high levels while deaths and concerns about medical care in detention have increased. Read our latest investigation into ICE detention conditions.
