President Donald Trump's crackdown on Minneapolis has sent communities into turmoil on a scale not seen before, Axios reported on Thursday.
"The unprecedented ICE surge has the hallmarks of an occupation in some neighborhoods, as masked and heavily armed agents drive around in large SUVs, tussle with protesters and observers, and break into people's cars and houses to make arrests," said the report. "Trump's immigration crackdown is tied in part to allegations of widespread fraud in Minnesota involving Somali residents. According to U.S. Census figures, of the more than 80,000 Somalis living in Minnesota, about 4,200 are not U.S. citizens, per PBS."
Tensions reached a new level after an ICE agent fatally shot a 37-year-old mom of three at close range through the window of her car, prompting an outbreak of protests and further suppression. The Trump administration is not expected to render any consequences on the agent.
This unrest has not only left everyone on edge, it has also jeopardized schools and businesses, said the report.
"Minneapolis and St. Paul schools are offering remote learning for families who don't feel safe sending their kids outside. Spanish immersion day care centers have cut their hours and asked parents to keep their kids home if possible," said the report. Meanwhile, "Midtown Global Market is usually a buzzy hub for immigrant-owned businesses and customers, but several vendors have closed shop with their customers afraid to leave home. Longtime vendor Manny's Tortas is suffering a 40% decline in business, owner Manny González tells Axios. He said it's worse than 2020, and he won't last another month like this."
Gov. Tim Walz, who has been a repeated target for insults and attack by Trump, has urged everyone to turn the temperature down.
"Stop this campaign of retribution. This is not who we are," he said in a recently issued statement. Meanwhile, addressing his state, he said, "I know this is scary. We can — we must — speak out loudly, urgently, but also peacefully. We cannot fan the flames of chaos. That's what he wants."
