Law enforcement officers — including deputies from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota State Patrol and other assisting agencies — have confronted protesters near the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, where demonstrations have continued for weeks following recent federal enforcement actions.
According to official statements, deputies issued multiple dispersal orders as the crowd refused to clear an access road leading to the federal facility, which has been a frequent focal point for anti-ICE demonstrations. Authorities described the protest as no longer peaceful after objects — including chunks of ice — were thrown, causing damage to vehicles and creating hazardous conditions.
Footage and eyewitness reports show sheriff’s deputies and state patrol officers working to restore order and enforce the dispersal directives. Law enforcement repeatedly instructed demonstrators to back up and leave the roadway, with audible commands broadcast over loudspeakers. When some individuals refused to comply, arrests were made to address unlawful behavior.
Federal agents have also been active at the site as part of broader immigration enforcement efforts, and clashes between protesters and law enforcement — including federal officers — have occurred on multiple occasions. Videos circulating from previous days capture moments where agents used crowd-control tools such as pepper spray and tear gas to create space when protesters continued to close in after warnings were issued.
Officials emphasize that dispersal orders are issued to protect public safety and maintain access to the federal building, and that individuals who ignore lawful directives or engage in destructive conduct may be subject to arrest. Demonstrators say they are protesting federal immigration enforcement operations and related shootings that occurred earlier in January, contributing to heightened tensions in the area.
This remains a developing situation, and authorities continue to monitor conditions around the federal facility.
