What happened in St. Cloud?
On Monday federal ICE agents conducted an operation at a strip mall in St. Cloud, Minnesota. A local Somali news outlet streamed the action live and word spread quickly. Hundreds of people gathered at the scene, surrounding agents, blocking parking exits and blowing whistles. Officers reported being unable to leave for a time and deployed tear gas to clear the crowd. At least one person was arrested during the raid and two protesters were detained later in the parking lot according to media reports.
The crowd and the response
The crowd consisted largely of members of the Somali community who live and work in the strip mall area. They shouted slogans demanding ICE leave and tried to prevent vehicles from moving. Tensions rose fast and video shows agents working amid the noise and close proximity of the crowd. Tear gas was used to restore access and safety for officers. The scene was chaotic enough that elected officials and onlookers were visibly shaken and had pepper spray effects from the confrontation.
Lawmakers and local voices
State Senator Aric Putnam was seen at the scene trying to separate protestors from federal agents and urging people not to get close. He later described the moment as stressful and questioned the tactics used by agents. Others online called for reinforcements and a National Guard presence, arguing authorities need superior force when faced with large, coordinated standoffs. Local business owners who are part of the Somali community said the raid and the protests have unsettled daily life at the strip mall.
Why this matters to the country
These confrontations highlight a key tension between immigration enforcement and community response in neighborhoods with large immigrant populations. When operations become public quickly through social media and local outlets, crowds can mobilize in minutes and complicate enforcement. That creates tough choices for federal officials who must balance safety, the rule of law and community relations. Expect more disputes like this until clearer plans exist for conducting sensitive actions without sparking mass protests.
🚨 BREAKING: Hundreds just showed up to protest dozens of ICE agents at a Somali strip mall in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
You can also see Sen. Aric Putnam (D) trying to hold the crowd back.
“Don’t even get close.” pic.twitter.com/JScmXsBj1H
— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) January 12, 2026
New footage from St. Cloud, MN: Somali mob rushes DHS agents during a raid with overwhelming numbers.@Sec_Noem – agents need reinforcements and National Guard on the ground.
Without superior force, these mobs will feel unstoppable, and you will have Mogasota on your hands. pic.twitter.com/jn41BRlCAF
— Kim "Katie" USA (@KimKatieUSA) January 10, 2026
WE’D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS! PLEASE COMMENT BELOW.
JIMMY
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