Minneapolis Safety Commissioner Warns of Trauma from ICE Surge

Todd Barnette says federal agents' presence is creating danger and eroding community trust.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 7:15pm

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Todd Barnette, the community safety commissioner in Minneapolis, expressed concerns about the impact of the surge of federal immigration agents (ICE) in the city. Barnette said residents and visitors are afraid, with people avoiding going to stores, work, and school due to the presence of the agents. He noted that a city ordinance prevents Minneapolis police from working with federal agents, and the city does not want to engage with agents using tactics that "terrorize the average citizen." Barnette believes the peaceful protests against the ICE presence will help remove the agents, but he is worried about the lasting trauma and damage to community trust that will remain.

Why it matters

The influx of federal immigration agents in Minneapolis has created a climate of fear and disruption in the community, undermining the progress the city has made in rebuilding trust between law enforcement and residents since 2020. Community leaders like Barnette are concerned about the long-term impact on public safety and wellbeing.

The details

Barnette said the city's separation ordinance prevents Minneapolis police from working with or supporting ICE agents. He added that the city does not want to engage with federal agents using aggressive tactics that "terrorize the average citizen." Barnette believes the peaceful protests against the ICE presence will help remove the agents from the city, but he worries about the lasting trauma and damage to community trust that will remain.

  • The ICE surge in Minneapolis began in early 2026.

The players

Todd Barnette

The community safety commissioner in Minneapolis who is expressing concerns about the impact of the ICE surge in the city.

Minneapolis Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that is prohibited from working with or supporting ICE agents due to a city ordinance.

ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)

The federal immigration agency that has surged its presence in Minneapolis, creating a climate of fear and disruption in the community.

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What they’re saying

“Residents and visitors are afraid. You can feel it. You can see it because they are not going to the store, kids are not going to school, people don't want to go to work because they are afraid.”

— Todd Barnette, Community Safety Commissioner (CBS Minnesota)

“Any employee of the city of Minneapolis, you are not in any way able to participate or support ICE in any way.”

— Todd Barnette, Community Safety Commissioner (CBS Minnesota)

“Their presence is creating a danger, and so sometimes for our law enforcement, we got to get them out and that will help calm things down because our approach is de-escalation.”

— Todd Barnette, Community Safety Commissioner (CBS Minnesota)

What’s next

Barnette and other city officials are working to remove the ICE agents from Minneapolis and address the lasting trauma and damage to community trust caused by their presence.

The takeaway

The surge of federal immigration agents in Minneapolis has created a climate of fear and disruption, undermining the progress the city has made in rebuilding trust between law enforcement and the community. Local leaders are concerned about the long-term impact on public safety and wellbeing, and are working to remove the agents and address the lasting damage.