Hundreds of demonstrators opposing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions effectively chased a small contingent of far-right activists from a protest in downtown Minneapolis on Saturday, January 17, 2026. The confrontation heightened existing tensions in a city still reeling from the fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen, Renee Good, by a federal immigration agent just ten days prior.
Confrontation in Sub-Zero Temperatures
The anti-ICE protesters, organized by the People’s Action Coalition Against Trump, gathered near City Hall. Waving signs and chanting demands for ICE and Border Patrol to leave Minneapolis, the large crowd quickly outnumbered and advanced on a group of about ten far-right demonstrators. With wind chill temperatures plunging to -4 degrees Fahrenheit (-20°C), some in the crowd threw water balloons, soaking the right-wing activists. Police observed the dueling protests but maintained their distance throughout the incident.
Within minutes, the outnumbered far-right group was pressed against the outside of the municipal government center. After about an hour, the small contingent retreated several blocks to a hotel, pursued by hundreds of anti-ICE protesters who shouted obscenities and told them to leave the city. While a few minor scuffles broke out, no serious violence was observed by Reuters journalists on the scene.
Online Influencer Claims Stabbing Attempt
The right-wing rally was organized by Jake Lang, an online influencer who was among more than 1,500 people pardoned by former President Donald Trump for convictions related to the January 6 U.S. Capitol attack. Lang had billed the event as an “anti-fraud” rally, though his voice was never audible to the crowd. Later, Lang posted on social media platform X that he had been stabbed during a scuffle but was saved by a protective vest. Reuters could not independently verify this claim, and Minneapolis police did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the alleged incident.
Lang, who has a history of making anti-Muslim and antisemitic comments and has stated a desire to secure the U.S. for white Christians, has been present at small pro-ICE rallies in Minneapolis recently. He has specifically targeted the city's Somali immigrant community, which is predominantly Muslim.
Background: Operation Metro Surge and a Fatal Shooting
The protests occurred against the backdrop of a massive federal immigration enforcement operation. Some 3,000 agents from ICE and Border Patrol have descended on Minneapolis and St. Paul in recent weeks under an initiative dubbed "Operation Metro Surge." President Trump has repeatedly justified the deployment by citing a scandal involving the theft of federal funds meant for social-welfare programs in Minnesota, and his administration has frequently singled out the state's Somali immigrants.
The operation turned tragic on January 7, 2026, when an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good, a U.S. citizen and mother of three, after she drove away from agents who had ordered her to exit her vehicle. The Department of Homeland Security stated the agent, positioned in front of her car, was struck and feared for his life. However, publicly available videos appear to show the agent remaining on his feet, raising questions about the extent of the contact.
This situation has put Minnesota's Democratic leadership, including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, in direct conflict with the Trump administration. The U.S. Justice Department has opened an investigation into the state and local officials.
Community Fear and Solidarity
Among the anti-ICE protesters was a 56-year-old woman named Laura, who, like others interviewed, withheld her last name for fear of federal retribution. "We’re here to support our Somali neighbors, they asked for their white allies to show up for them," she said. "I’m here to exercise my First Amendment right because my neighbors can’t, they’re too afraid to leave their house." Her statement underscores the climate of fear and the community solidarity that fueled the large turnout against the immigration crackdown and the far-right demonstration.
