Protests Spark in Minneapolis as Federal Raid on Las Cuatro Milpas Prompts Community Outcry
ICARO Media Group
**Protests Erupt in Minneapolis Following Federal Law Enforcement Raid on Local Restaurant**
Federal law enforcement officers conducted a raid on Las Cuatro Milpas, a taco restaurant on East Lake Street in Minneapolis, early Tuesday morning, igniting protests from immigrant rights groups and local residents. The law enforcement agencies involved included Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, the FBI, and the IRS criminal investigation division.
Protestors gathered at the scene, challenging the actions of the officers and questioning the involvement of the Minneapolis Police Department. Minneapolis police officials had previously pledged not to assist federal agencies in civil immigration enforcement, yet officers were present alongside ICE agents during the raid. The demonstrators expressed their discontent by shouting at the officers and forming human barriers to hinder law enforcement vehicles.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey stated on social media that the raid resulted in no arrests and clarified that the operation was connected to a criminal investigation involving drugs and money laundering, not immigration enforcement. Despite the mayoral assurance, tensions remained high given the historical context of law enforcement's interactions with the local community.
The event stirred memories of the protests on Lake Street five years ago following the murder of George Floyd. This time, demonstrators threw traffic cones and trash cans at law enforcement vehicles, demanding that officers leave the area and end their involvement in such operations.
Amid the escalating confrontation, the Minneapolis Police Department and the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office released statements clarifying their roles. MPD explained that their presence was to maintain public safety, while the Sheriff's Office emphasized that their involvement in civil immigration enforcement was nonexistent, asserting their assistance was solely for criminal investigations.
Federal officers at the scene refrained from giving specifics about the raid, directing inquiries to ICE's media contact without divulging their affiliations or identities. Sporting masks, the officers were seen loading boxes from the restaurant into a van as protestors attempted to block the vehicles' departure. Officers employed chemical irritants and loud sirens to disperse the crowd and continue their operation.
Minneapolis City Council Member Jason Chavez, whose constituency includes the area of the raid, joined the protestors and condemned the involvement of local police in what appeared to be a federally driven operation, underlining the profound concerns and distrust within the community regarding law enforcement activities.
This incident comes during a period of heightened executive actions on immigration enforcement, with the Trump administration's aggressive stance on deportations fueling local resistance and debate over the roles and responsibilities of municipal and federal law enforcement agencies.