Bellingham Activists Protest Local Target, Demand End to ICE Cooperation

Protesters call on retail giant to stop allowing ICE agents access to stores and parking lots

Published on Feb. 2, 2026

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More than 50 community members in Bellingham, Washington gathered at a local Target store over the weekend as part of a national protest against the corporation's alleged cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The activist group, known as the Bellingham Troublemakers, accused Target of allowing ICE agents to enter stores, film promotional content, and use Target parking lots as staging areas for raids. The protesters delivered a letter to Target's CEO with demands that the company publicly call for an end to the ICE 'surge' in Minnesota, affirm Target stores as Fourth Amendment workplaces, and publicly call on Congress to cut federal funding for ICE.

Why it matters

The protest in Bellingham is part of a broader national movement demanding that major corporations like Target stop enabling and cooperating with federal immigration enforcement actions that many view as abusive and harmful to local communities. As a prominent Minnesota-based company, Target is being called on to use its influence to push back against ICE's activities in the state.

The details

The Bellingham Troublemakers group walked through the local Target store on Saturday, distributing flyers and engaging with shoppers and employees. They met with store management to present their demands, which also included calls for Target to support investigations and accountability for any federal agents who harm or kill civilians. The activists criticized Target for failing to condemn ICE after its agents detained two Target employees in Minnesota in early January.

  • The protest took place on Saturday, February 2, 2026.
  • In early January 2026, ICE agents detained two Target employees in Minnesota.

The players

Bellingham Troublemakers

A local activist group in Bellingham, Washington that organized the protest against Target's alleged cooperation with ICE.

Wendy Czopp

A member of the Bellingham Troublemakers group who stated that Target has a legal right to keep ICE out of its stores but is instead choosing 'silence and complicity'.

Rachel Budelsky

A member of the Bellingham Troublemakers group who said that 'collaborating with ICE is bad for workers, bad for customers, and bad for business'.

Michael Fiddelke

The CEO of Target Corporation who took over the role on Sunday, February 2, 2026.

Target Corporation

A major retail company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota that is being accused of cooperating with ICE agents.

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What they’re saying

“Target has a legal right to keep ICE out of its stores, and instead it is choosing silence and complicity. That choice puts workers, customers, and entire communities at risk. We showed up today to demand that Target use its power to protect people, not enable abuse.”

— Wendy Czopp, Member, Bellingham Troublemakers (The Bellingham Herald)

“Target presents itself as a community-minded company, but communities don't feel safe when ICE is allowed to operate freely inside retail spaces. This is about basic safety, dignity, and accountability. Collaborating with ICE is bad for workers, bad for customers, and bad for business.”

— Rachel Budelsky, Member, Bellingham Troublemakers (The Bellingham Herald)

What’s next

The activists are awaiting a response from the Target Corporation regarding their demands.

The takeaway

This protest highlights the growing pressure on major corporations to take a stand against federal immigration enforcement actions that many view as harmful to local communities. As a prominent Minnesota-based company, Target is being called on to use its influence to push back against ICE's activities in the state and protect the safety and dignity of its workers and customers.