ICE Expands Reach to Minnesota Suburbs

Immigrant communities in Lakeville and other suburban areas face increased ICE presence and challenges organizing resistance.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

As ICE operations expand from the Twin Cities to the surrounding suburbs, immigrant communities in places like Lakeville, Minnesota are struggling to organize resistance and mutual aid efforts. Activists describe the challenges of building trust and mobilizing support in more geographically spread-out and politically divided suburban areas, compared to the dense, left-leaning urban centers. Despite these obstacles, some suburban residents are still finding ways to support their immigrant neighbors, like the La Viña church in Burnsville that has distributed over 818,000 pounds of food during the ICE crackdown.

Why it matters

The expansion of ICE operations into Minnesota's suburbs highlights the growing geographic reach of federal immigration enforcement, which is making it harder for immigrant communities to find safe havens outside of urban centers. This shift also tests the ability of local activists and community groups to adapt their resistance and mutual aid efforts to more spread-out, politically divided suburban areas, where building trust and mobilizing support can be more challenging.

The details

ICE agents have been spotted in various suburban locations like gas stations, mobile home parks, and strip malls in areas outside the Twin Cities, making it harder for protesters and observers to organize. Activists describe the suburbs as more geographically spread out and politically divided compared to the dense, left-leaning urban areas, posing obstacles to building the hyperlocal networks and rapid response capabilities that have been effective in Minneapolis and St. Paul. However, some suburban residents are still finding ways to support their immigrant neighbors, like the La Viña church in Burnsville that has distributed over 818,000 pounds of food during the ICE crackdown.

  • On February 12th, border czar Tom Homan announced the 'surge operation' would be ending soon, but also said a 'small footprint' of agents would remain in Minnesota during the wind-down.
  • In early February, the Department of Homeland Security announced that 700 agents would be leaving the state, but Audrey said the town saw an exceptional amount of ICE activity on the day of Homan's announcement.

The players

Lety

A lifelong resident of the Minnesota suburbs who tries to monitor ICE activity a couple times a week.

Garrett Guntly

A Minneapolis-based activist who discusses the challenges of coordinating resistance efforts in the more geographically spread-out suburban areas.

Andy

A lifelong resident of Shakopee, Minnesota who has been delivering groceries with the Neighbors Helping Neighbors mutual aid group and describes the fear and suspicion among the immigrant community.

Audrey

A lifelong resident of St. Cloud, Minnesota who discusses the challenges of organizing resistance in the more conservative, politically divided suburban community.

Miguel Aviles

The pastor of La Viña, an Evangelical church in Burnsville, Minnesota that has distributed over 818,000 pounds of food since the start of the ICE operation.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Here, we're connected enough with these resources, even beyond auditory whistles, that if someone blasts a message in a Signal chat, you'll get 20 or 30 people showing up at an intersection because they've gotten an alert on their phone. I don't think that exists in Lakeville, Prior Lake, any of these larger suburbs that are geographically spread out.”

— Garrett Guntly, Minneapolis-based activist

“It takes time to build trust. Some of these neighbors have been out of work for two months. They're behind on rent because they aren't going to work. They're taking care of their whole family, and they're terrified to go outside.”

— Andy, Lifelong resident of Shakopee, Minnesota

“We've had drivers who have been intimidated. I had a lady call me and say, 'Pastor, I'm with my father doing deliveries and I've had ICE following me for 40 minutes.'”

— Miguel Aviles, Pastor of La Viña church in Burnsville, Minnesota

“Even if they leave tomorrow, we still have a lot of work to do, mentally and physically. People have lost their jobs. Once they return to work, it'll take them at least two weeks to get paid again, and that first paycheck won't cover all their necessities.”

— Miguel Aviles, Pastor of La Viña church in Burnsville, Minnesota

“They say they're going after the worst of the worst. That's not true. These were the best of the best, and we miss them dearly.”

— Miguel Aviles, Pastor of La Viña church in Burnsville, Minnesota

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The expansion of ICE operations into Minnesota's suburbs highlights the growing geographic reach of federal immigration enforcement, making it harder for immigrant communities to find safe havens outside of urban centers. This shift tests the ability of local activists and community groups to adapt their resistance and mutual aid efforts to more spread-out, politically divided suburban areas, where building trust and mobilizing support can be more challenging. However, some suburban residents are still finding ways to support their immigrant neighbors, demonstrating the resilience of these communities.