Protesters Demand Target Take Stand Against ICE at Chicago Store

Eight people detained as demonstrators call for retailer to denounce federal immigration enforcement

Jan. 29, 2026 at 9:15pm

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Several people were detained at a protest outside a Target store in Chicago's West Loop neighborhood on Thursday night, as demonstrators demanded the retailer publicly denounce U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) amid the Trump administration's mass deportation campaign. The protest was organized by the People's Lobby and brought out faith leaders, elected officials, and dozens of other demonstrators carrying signs criticizing Target's silence on ICE's actions.

Why it matters

The protest was the latest in a series of actions that have sprung up across the Chicago area in the wake of the recent killings of a nurse and another individual by federal agents in Minneapolis. Organizers are calling for major corporations like Target, which is headquartered in Minnesota, to take a stronger public stance against ICE's presence and actions in the region.

The details

Eight people were detained at the start of the protest as they tried to block exits and shut down the store, according to the People's Lobby. Demonstrators chanted "Shut it down!" and "Target is complicit, we do not shop or visit" as shoppers looked on from inside the store. The protest came in advance of a planned national shutdown on Friday in protest of ICE, with several local cafes and restaurants also participating.

  • The protest took place on Thursday night, January 29, 2026.
  • A national shutdown in protest of ICE is planned for Friday, January 30, 2026.

The players

People's Lobby

The organization that organized the protest outside the West Loop Target store.

Alex Pretti

An intensive care unit nurse who was fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis last weekend, sparking protests across the Chicago area.

Renee Good

An individual who was killed by federal agents in Minneapolis earlier this month, also contributing to the protests.

Michael Fiddelke

The incoming chief executive of Target, who sent a video message to the company's employees calling recent violence "incredibly painful" without directly mentioning immigration enforcement.

Emilio Rodriguez

A former environmental justice organizer who participated in the protest, criticizing Target for prioritizing profits over people.

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What they’re saying

“We don't want to see corporations take up space and not show up for us. We know that they put profits over people, and we want to show that we're not standing for that.”

— Emilio Rodriguez, Former environmental justice organizer (Chicago Tribune)

“It just seems to be getting worse and worse and worse. ... I think we just all gotta stand together.”

— Ryan Sinwelski (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the eight people detained at the protest to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This protest highlights the growing demands for major corporations like Target to take a stronger public stance against the Trump administration's immigration crackdown and ICE's actions, particularly in the wake of recent high-profile incidents involving federal agents in the Midwest.