The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the arrest of 12 anti-ICE agitators in Minneapolis on Thursday night for assaulting federal officers, including one man who threatened agents with a gun.
The arrests stem from ongoing rioting against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, which have turned increasingly violent. DHS now says that it has seen a continued surge in assaults against officers.
The 12 arrests were made during another night of rioting in Minneapolis, where agitators targeted federal agents who were actively enforcing deportation orders.
According to DHS, 12 people were taken in for physically assaulting law enforcement officers.
Thursday’s mayhem was the latest in a series of clashes in Minnesota, as DHS has reported a staggering 1,300% increase in assaults on federal officers nationwide as they carry out their mandates.
Wednesday night viral videos showed unhinged rioters breaking into ICE agents’ cars, stealing a gun, ammo, and confidential papers from the vehicles, as previously reported by DX.
In a separate but related case highlighted by the DHS on social media, a U.S. citizen was arrested during the rioting for assaulting officers while armed with a gun.
The man arrived at the protest carrying a gun and a box of ammunition in a bag, reportedly threatening violence against law enforcement while making gestures toward his bag. After crowd control measures were used to attempt to calm the scene, the suspect allegedly kicked a smoke canister at officers and pushed an officer, leading to the suspect’s arrest.
After the suspect was arrested, the man admitted to possessing the weapon, which was then seized along with the ammunition. He was not carrying a concealed carry permit.
The recent arrests took place against a backdrop of unruly and violent agitators in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara and Mayor Jacob Frey have both addressed the escalating violence in recent speeches; the two men seem to have evolving perspectives on the madness that the agitators are perpetuating.
In a January 14 press conference, Chief O’Hara detailed the challenges, specifically mentioning a lack of coordination that has only worsened tensions and led to incidents like the shooting of a man in the leg by a federal agent during an attempted arrest.
O’Hara, who has publicly called for “lawful and peaceful” responses, also spoke on how the city’s police are caught in the middle, responding to over 200 ICE-related incidents. He warned the public that the unrest could reach a “breaking point.”
Mayor Frey, on the other hand, who initially demanded agents “get the f— out” of the city earlier this month, has since shifted his focus, telling the rioters to remain “peaceful” or “go home.”
