ICE drawdown? Indications point to steady enforcement activity outside the Twin Cities, MPR, 2/18/26

[progree]

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/02/18/ice-drawdown-indications-point-to-steady-enforcement-activity-outside-of-minneapolis-st-paul

While people on the ground are skeptical about the government’s statements, and Homeland Security isn’t releasing any updates on agent numbers or arrests, it does appear from anecdotal reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has shifted its activities from the core cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul to the state’s suburbs, exurbs and small towns.

It was on the very day last week that Trump administration “border czar” Tom Homan announced that some federal agents were departing Minnesota that attorney John Hayden’s client was arrested.

. . .

The man is a mechanic who was born in Mexico. Hayden said the man may have been put at ease by the announcement that the federal government was winding down its operations. When two women popped the hood on their vehicle and knocked on his door, the man went outside to help. The arrest was captured on video.

. . .

Although advocates say there are fewer volunteers observing ICE activities in outstate Minnesota, there have been a number of high-profile actions, including a car crash involving federal agents in Mankato and the arrest of restaurant workers in Rochester.

More on the mechanic
https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/ice-agents-fake-car-trouble-to-lure-man-brooklyn-center-minnesota/

=======================================================

Federal agents still active in Twin Cities suburbs, observers say, CBS Minnesota, 2/18/26

Dan Kessler is a state Senate candidate for District 48 and a constitutional observer in the Chaska area.

"We are not seeing a drawdown, in fact, we are seeing a ramping up," said Kessler in a video posted to his Facebook page Tuesday. That day, he reported eight confirmed ICE vehicles in Chaska, along with agents taking someone into custody.

"Yesterday we saw more vehicles out than we've seen in a while, maybe ever," said Kessler. "We're not seeing any real change in the number of vehicles out here. We're still seeing constitutional observers approached and threatened with arrest for exercising their constituional right to observe."

It's a similar story up in Blaine, where ICE observer Nikki Aune said ICE have been shifting tactics. Aune says agents are out in the afternoon, as opposed to the morning.

More: https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/federal-agents-twin-cities-suburbs/

[2naSalit]

1. And the abuses will continue...

Until we stop them.

[dflprincess]

2. My cousin said she hasn't noticed any "draw down" in Wilmar

she says ICE goons are still all over the town.