Federal law enforcement operation draws protests in St. Paul
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A federal law enforcement operation at a St. Paul manufacturer prompted a large response by observers and protesters on Tuesday morning.
Federal agents wearing clothing marked “FBI,” “DEA” and “HSI” — Homeland Security Investigations, part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — were seen at Bro-Tex Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of cloth and paper wipes. It was not immediately clear what prompted the operation.
An ICE spokesperson confirmed the agency was part of the operation.
“Today in St. Paul, ICE HSI and law enforcement partners conducted court authorized law enforcement activity and served a search warrant in furtherance of a federal criminal investigation. There is no threat to public safety, and the investigation remains ongoing at this time,” the spokesperson said.
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It was not clear whether anyone was detained.
St. Paul police told MPR News that they were not involved in the operation and did not have any information about what prompted it. Federal officials left the scene by 11 a.m.
While federal officials were still at the scene, St. Paul City Council member Molly Coleman, who represents that part of the city, posted on social media that “there is a visible ICE presence, but we continue to be told this not a widespread immigration raid. We are working with community and government partners to monitor and ensure any action remains within the scope of a valid warrant.”
Mayor Melvin Carter spoke to protesters at the scene. He said he was not notified before the operation, and said the city will take steps to learn more.
“One of the first things is to get our hands around what exactly just happened, and who exactly they did grab and take. In cases where they’ve got a federal warrant, there’s not much a mayor can do,” Carter said.
Carter said he’s concerned about the impact on the community.
“The rhetoric we hear from Washington, D.C. is all centered around the criminal violence. But when they cast these wide nets, they terrify folks who are just trying to go to work, they terrify folks who are trying to live in community,” Carter said.
An increasing number of observers and protesters gathered at the scene through mid-morning — many holding up phones and cameras to film what was happening. Some chanted and yelled at federal agents.
When agents drove cars and vans out of the blocked-off area around the building, protesters got in the way in an attempt to block them. Agents used chemical irritants to disperse the crowd.
Emily Green was among the crowd, and said she was hit in the stomach by a projectile fired by a federal agent. Green said she was glad to see so many protesters and observers show up on short notice
“I’m just so heartened in this situation to see the level of people who are responding so quickly and just showing up, putting their bodies on the line and really coming out and forming these temporary communities in these moments to protect each other,” Green said, adding that she wanted to know whether anyone was detained and if so — what will happen to them.
Bro-Tex is located in an industrial area on Hampden Avenue, a couple blocks north of University Avenue and east of Highway 280. The family-owned company has been in operation for more than 100 years.
In June, a federal law enforcement operation on Lake Street in Minneapolis, related to serving a search warrant, also drew large numbers of protesters.
Northfield arrest raises legal questions
The St. Paul action comes days after a highly visible ICE arrest in Northfield on Nov. 11. Video shared online shows federal agents surrounding a vehicle, pointing a gun, and pulling Adan Nunez Gonzalez from the passenger seat before handcuffing him and placing him in an unmarked car. A bystander can be heard shouting, “That’s my dad!”
The arrest has touched off questions about whether federal tactics are shifting.
Immigration attorney David Wilson told MPR News that while ICE arrests are not new, the level of force in recent operations is different. Wilson described a previous norm where agents approached people after they exited a vehicle, identified themselves and conducted arrests with what he called “some degree of dignity.”
“This version, the vehicles coming up on a car, guns being drawn, that is a whole different approach,” he said.
In a statement to MPR News, ICE said Nunez Gonzalez had been removed from the U.S. three times and that returning without authorization constitutes illegal re-entry, which the agency describes as a federal felony. They also claimed he had a prior arrest for public intoxication and an outstanding warrant, though MPR News could not find Minnesota court records confirming that.
ICE alleges Nunez Gonzalez and the driver refused commands, and that he attempted to put the car into drive “in an attempt to drive over officers.”
Immigration experts dispute that description, noting that video shows Nunez Gonzalez was in the passenger seat when he was removed.
What should people do if an unmarked car attempts a stop?
Legal experts say it’s not uncommon for ICE to use unmarked vehicles. Both Wilson and Ian Bratlie, a staff attorney with the ACLU of Minnesota, said that if someone is unsure whether they’re being stopped by legitimate law enforcement, they should: call 911 to confirm the stop, or drive to the nearest police station or well-lit public area before pulling over.
Northfield community members are planning a vigil Friday, Nov. 21 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. at the Kandiyohi County Jail where Nunez Gonzalez is being held.
