Minnesota Prepares for Mass Protest Against Immigration Enforcement Despite Dangerous Cold

Protesters gather during a rally for Renee Good, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Minneapolis, after she was fatally shot by an ICE officer the day before. (AP Photo/Adam Bettcher)

MINNEAPOLIS — 

Minnesota is bracing for a large-scale protest against federal immigration enforcement as thousands of demonstrators are expected to take to the streets despite dangerously cold weather gripping the state.

Organizers say the protest, scheduled for Friday in Minneapolis and St. Paul, is aimed at opposing the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and calling for an end to what they describe as aggressive and harmful immigration enforcement practices. The demonstration is expected to draw participants from across the state, including immigrant rights groups, labor unions, faith leaders, and community organizations.

The protest comes as Minnesota faces extreme winter conditions, with wind chills forecast to plunge as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Weather Service. Officials have warned that prolonged exposure to such temperatures can cause frostbite within minutes. Despite the risks, organizers say the severity of the weather underscores the urgency of their message.

“This is a moment when people feel they cannot stay silent,” said one protest organizer. “If communities can come together during extreme weather emergencies, they can also come together to stand up for human rights.”

An image depicting Renee Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE officer last week, adorns a makeshift memorial for her in Minneapolis, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)

In addition to the march, organizers have called for an “economic blackout,” urging residents to stay home from work, avoid shopping, and close businesses in solidarity with immigrant communities. Hundreds of local businesses have announced voluntary closures in support of the protest, highlighting the economic and social impact of the movement.

The demonstration follows weeks of heightened tension surrounding immigration enforcement in Minnesota, including public outrage over recent ICE operations and the fatal shooting of a woman during an enforcement action earlier this month. That incident sparked daily protests and intensified calls for accountability, transparency, and policy reform.

Local and state officials have acknowledged the right to protest while emphasizing public safety concerns due to the extreme cold. Law enforcement agencies say they are preparing for large crowds but have urged demonstrators to take precautions, including wearing proper winter clothing and limiting time outdoors.

Religious leaders from multiple faiths are also expected to participate, holding prayer services and interfaith gatherings alongside the march. Many have framed the protest as both a moral and humanitarian response to current immigration policies.

Candles burn around a poem written by Renee Nicole Good during a vigil honoring Good, outside the State Capitol, in St. Paul, Minn., Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, (Kerem Yücel/Minnesota Public Radio via AP)

As Minnesota prepares for one of the coldest days of the winter, the protest is set to test both the physical endurance of participants and the political resolve of a movement that shows no sign of slowing, even in the harshest conditions.