(KNSI) – Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers descended on a mostly Somali-owned business district in St. Cloud on Monday, prompting a large community response and intervention by local officials.
St. Cloud City Council Member Hudda Ibrahim arrived around noon, after she was alerted that approximately 80 ICE agents were in the area. “They told me that they were, quote unquote, under siege on 3rd and 33rd.”
Local law enforcement was called to de-escalate the situation as tensions rose between ICE agents and community members. Ibrahim, along with Council Member Karen Larson and Senator Aric Putnam, observed the situation as St. Cloud police worked to maintain peace.
According to a press release, police had no advance notice of the federal operation and focused on ensuring public safety while allowing peaceful First Amendment expression. Officers remained on scene until ICE concluded its business and departed.
Witnesses told KNSI News that agents detained one to four people, but it was unclear if any were taken into custody. They also said ICE agents used pepper spray.
Jake Judd/KNSI News
KNSI news observed numerous people in the crowd throwing snowballs, giving the middle finger, and cursing at the ICE agents’ vehicles as they left the scene.
Ibrahim emphasized that this wasn’t an organized response but rather community members making a stand as they go about their daily business. “These were not protesters. These were the folks who came here to shop. They were buying stuff. They were going to work. Some of them were picking their food from here.”
She says federal agents have been in the area for weeks. “ICE has been here for the last three, four weeks. And they have been targeting our minority-owned businesses, racially profiling American citizens. And these are American citizens, law-abiding American citizens. And they’re not criminals.”
She says many Somali residents have lived in St. Cloud for more than 30 years and contribute to the local economy.
Jake Judd/KNSI News
Ibrahim passed along some advice for St. Cloud residents. “To stay safe. And to make sure that you know your constitutional rights. Because that’s the most important thing here. I know a lot of folks who I met here earlier said that they were carrying their American citizenship, or American passport, their identification cards. So I just want to let people know that they have every right to be here as American citizens.”
The council member urged the community to remain peaceful while emphasizing St. Cloud’s identity as an inclusive and welcoming city.
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