Protesters staged a “sit-in” at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul (MSP) International Airport on Friday over deportation flights as immigration agents snatch violent migrant criminals from Minnesota.
The left-wing 50501 Movement’s Minnesota chapter posted a call-to-action for the protesters on social media Friday morning, saying a plane was scheduled to arrive with “shackled deportees” at the facility at 12:40. Authorities gave a permit establishing an approved location and number of protesters, but airport police made about 100 arrests after they violated “the agreed-upon terms,” an MSP spokesperson told the Daily Caller News Foundation. The DCNF observed several police officers standing guard in riot gear during the gathering.
The crowd surrounded a gated outdoor area of the airport, held signs denouncing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), linked arms and sang about how they would “all go down to jail” if necessary, according to footage from the leftist outlet BreakThrough News. The demonstration also involved “civil disobedience” by blocking traffic at the airport, leftist magazine In These Times reported, showing a picture of protesters flooding the road outside the gate.
Scene at Minneapolis airport as anti-ICE protesters chant with law enforcement standing guard.
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) January 23, 2026
Scene at Minneapolis airport as anti-ICE protesters chant with law enforcement standing guard.
: The federal government’s immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota has swept up illegal immigrants convicted of serious offenses such as murder, criminal sexual conduct, assault and cruelty towards a child, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
“Everybody’s got a right to live, and before this campaign fails, we’ll all go down to jail,” protesters sang in unison, the footage shows. Protesters also marched with signs that said “ICE out,” “prosecute ICE terrorists,” “De-ICE MN,” “No secret police” and “No kings,” referring to President Donald Trump. Other signs made apparent biblical references, saying “Love thy neighbor” and “leave our neighbors alone!”
BreakThrough News described the protest as a “sit-in,” with activists camping out on the sidewalk for at least an hour while chanting, singing, marching and giving remarks via megaphone.
MSP International Airport could not confirm to the DCNF whether a deportation flight actually occurred, and the DHS said it would not for security purposes.
“We have arrested over 10,000 criminal illegal aliens who were killing Americans, hurting children and reigning terror in Minneapolis because [Democratic Minnesota Gov.] Tim Walz and [Democratic Minneapolis Mayor] Jacob Frey refuse to protect their own people and instead protect criminals,” the DHS told the DCNF. “In the last 6 weeks, our brave DHS law enforcement have arrested 3,000 criminal illegal aliens including vicious murderers, rapists, child pedophiles and incredibly dangerous individuals. A HUGE victory for public safety.”
Massive turnout for an ANTI-ICE protest in downtown Minneapolis with over 20,000 marching calling for ICE to end their operations in the city. Businesses all over Minneapolis and St.Paul are closed today @DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/ENhDZJiiyv
— Jorge Ventura Media (@VenturaReport) January 23, 2026
The DHS’ statement listed 17 migrants as examples, including four convicted murderers, six child rapists, three other rapists, one attempted rapist, a convicted extortionist with an active warrant for murder in Ecuador, a migrant with at least 24 convictions, and one with a gun possession conviction and “admitted connections to Hezbollah,” a foreign Iran-backed terrorist organization.
“This is nothing more than a tired tactic to abolish ICE by proxy,” the DHS said of the airport protest. “Attacks and demonization of ICE and our partners is wrong.”
Jorge Ventura contributed reporting.Â
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