1. The “National Shutdown” Becomes a Blueprint
The January 30th general strike in Minneapolis didn’t just halt local business; it set a precedent for 900 local actions across all 50 states.
The Anniversary Walkout: Coinciding with the second anniversary of the presidential inauguration, the “Free America Walkout” saw tens of thousands of workers nationwide following Minneapolis’s lead, creating an “economic blackout” to protest violent enforcement tactics.
Labor Joins the Fray: In a historic shift, major unions like the Minnesota AFL-CIO have moved beyond “bread-and-butter” issues. By linking immigration enforcement to worker safety and “labor market discipline,” they have made the removal of ICE agents a core union demand for 2026.
2. The “Sanctuary Campus” Surge
As federal agents continue to be spotted near schools, universities have become the new frontlines. Inspired by the Minneapolis protests, students at Columbia, Cornell, and the University of Minnesota are demanding total “de-coupling” from federal immigration agencies.
ICE Off Campus: Just yesterday, a dozen demonstrators were arrested at the University of Minnesota after a 13-hour standoff outside a hotel believed to be housing federal agents.
Career Fair Bans: A new national trend for Spring 2026 is the “Career Fair Boycott,” where student groups are successfully pressuring universities to ban ICE and CBP recruiters from campus networking events.
3. The Legal War: The 10th Amendment vs. The Surge
While the federal courts recently denied an emergency request to halt Operation Metro Surge, the legal battle is just beginning.
The “retribution” Lawsuit: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, joined by the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul and ten surrounding suburbs (including Bloomington), is arguing that the surge is a “campaign of political retribution” that violates the 10th Amendment.
Local Prosecutions: In a bold move, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty is currently reviewing evidence to decide whether to file state-level criminal charges against the federal agents involved in the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. This would create a constitutional showdown over whether federal agents can be prosecuted by the states they operate in.
