Since President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill into effect in July 2025, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has become the largest and most well-funded federal law enforcement agency in U.S. history. It was reported by the Brookings Institution that the United States experienced negative net migration rates for the first time in decades, and the Department of Homeland Security claimed that more than 2 million illegal immigrants were deported or voluntarily left. ICE’s presence in America has divided citizens, with many protesting and resisting ICE officers in their communities.

Protests against ICE have been a frequent occurrence since the election of Donald Trump. However, in the wake of the deaths of Reneé Nicole Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of ICE agents, as well as the shooting of two residents by Customs and Border Protection in Portland, Oregon, massive protests have been held across the country since the start of 2026. Minneapolis, Minnesota, the city where Reneé Good and Alex Pretti were killed, has been especially relevant as many protests are being held in the city despite increased ICE presence.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem have both responded to the wave of protests with defense of ICE agents and blaming “domestic terrorists” for using protests as a way to incite violence. On the other hand, Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey was quoted as saying “ICE, get the [expletive] out of our city.” Both sides of the political spectrum have quickly pinned blame on each other for the unrest, and used the hysteria to further push for their beliefs. Alex Pretti’s death was a particularly difficult topic to debate, as it stirred up arguments about the Second Amendment due to Pretti having a gun in his holster when he first approached the ICE agents who eventually took his life.

Due to the cold wave sweeping across America, many citizens are unable or unwilling to protest in public. But outside of mass protests, further action has been taken against ICE and the Trump administration. School walkouts have occurred in many states, and a nationwide general strike is being planned for January 30. January 31 is also set to be a day of wide protest, dubbed “ICE Out of Everywhere Day.” Boycotts of Amazon, Walmart, Starbucks, Target, and Home Depot are also planned, as these five companies are connected to the Trump administration through donations and complacency. Regardless of where one falls on the political spectrum, it is hard to deny the power of thousands of people when they use their voice for a common cause.