Anti-ICE rioters stormed at least one hotel in downtown Minneapolis on Friday night after rumors spread that federal immigration agents were staying there.
The incident occurred as unrest tied to the shooting death of Renee Nicole Good entered its third day.
The violence followed demonstrations that began hours after Good was killed on Wednesday afternoon.
Good, 37, was shot and killed during an encounter with a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent after she attempted to run him over with her vehicle.
Video footage from multiple angles, including a cellphone recording made by the ICE agent involved, shows Good accelerating her car toward the agent and striking him before he opened fire. Despite the footage, several Democratic officials have publicly described the incident differently.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) have both made statements that conflict with the video evidence.
In the days following the shooting, large groups of protesters gathered near the location of the incident in South Minneapolis.
Demonstrations also formed outside federal courthouses and immigration facilities throughout the city.
Several protests turned violent, resulting in multiple arrests carried out by federal authorities. Over the course of two nights, unrest escalated as demonstrators clashed with law enforcement and damaged property.
By Thursday night, rioters had established roadblocks in parts of the city in an attempt to create an autonomous zone similar to those seen during the George Floyd riots in Seattle in 2020, according to Trending Politics.
Law enforcement officials said the effort was designed to limit police access and control movement in certain areas.
Violence continued into Friday night when anti-ICE demonstrators blocked major streets and marched toward the Renaissance Hotel.
The march followed online rumors and tips suggesting that ICE agents were staying at the hotel.
Once the group arrived, the situation quickly escalated. Individuals dressed in black smashed windows and damaged the hotel lobby.
Others banged objects and played loud instruments in what they claimed was an effort to prevent federal agents from sleeping.
Reports indicate that rioters targeted multiple hotels they believed were housing ICE personnel. However, there has been no official confirmation that ICE agents were present at the specific hotels attacked.
Federal authorities had already increased their presence in the city before the hotel riot.
By Friday morning, the Department of Homeland Security had deployed 2,000 agents to assist with immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis.
Later Friday night, DHS announced that an additional 1,000 agents would be sent to the city. The department said the reinforcements were necessary to maintain immigration operations and protect federal property amid the ongoing unrest.
DHS officials said the deployment is tied to Operation PARRIS, which the agency described as the largest immigration enforcement operation ever conducted.
According to DHS, more than 1,000 arrests have already been made as part of the operation.
Federal officials said the increased presence will remain in place as long as necessary to restore order and ensure the safety of personnel and facilities.
