Vice President J.D. Vance visited Minneapolis on January 22, 2024, amidst rising tensions between local residents and federal immigration agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Vice President aimed to “turn the temperature down” in response to ongoing protests against federal immigration operations, which have intensified in recent weeks.
During his visit, Vance cited local officials’ lack of cooperation with federal immigration enforcement as a significant contributor to what he described as “chaos.” He remarked, “I’m sure that people are seeing a lot of things that would make any member of our national community feel very upset,” while emphasizing the need for collaboration between state and federal authorities.
Vance’s remarks were made at a press event held at Royalton Square in Minneapolis, where he was accompanied by uniformed ICE agents. Notably, the agents did not wear face coverings, a departure from standard practices in the field. The Vice President expressed concerns about ongoing violence against ICE personnel, stating, “We wouldn’t need it if we had a little more cooperation from the Minneapolis Police Department.”
The current situation in Minneapolis has drawn national attention, particularly following reports of ICE agents detaining individuals, including U.S. citizens, during operations that have frequently resulted in confrontations with demonstrators. Vance noted that approximately 3,000 federal immigration officials remain in the area to protect their colleagues from potential violence, which he claims has escalated during recent enforcement actions.
In a significant incident prior to Vance’s visit, an ICE observer and mother named Renee Good was fatally shot by an ICE agent in south Minneapolis. Vance maintained that Good had rammed her vehicle into an agent, although video evidence disputes this claim. The circumstances surrounding the incident have further heightened public scrutiny of ICE operations in the Twin Cities.
While addressing questions regarding the agency’s enforcement tactics, Vance acknowledged mistakes can occur in law enforcement but refrained from labeling specific actions as unnecessary. He stated, “Even if 99.99% of the guys do everything perfectly, you’re going to have people that make mistakes.”
The Vice President’s remarks come in the wake of community backlash over a reported incident in which four students, including a 5-year-old boy, were detained by ICE agents in a nearby suburb. Vance clarified that the boy was not the target of enforcement; rather, his father was taken into custody, and the decision for the boy to accompany him was made by the father.
Vance also addressed an internal ICE memorandum that suggested agents do not require a warrant to enter homes for immigration enforcement. He asserted that the agency would not enter a residence without a warrant, despite previous incidents where individuals have been detained without judicial approval.
Looking ahead, Vance emphasized the importance of local cooperation to facilitate more effective immigration enforcement. He characterized the pushback against ICE operations in Minneapolis as “unique” and expressed a desire to understand its underlying causes. He acknowledged that he had not communicated with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz during his visit.
As the situation develops, Vance suggested that federal intervention might escalate if violence against ICE personnel continues. He noted, “If the chaos gets worse, if more and more ICE agents are assaulted… that would be a problem.” The Vice President did not provide specific numbers regarding assaults on ICE agents in Minnesota, but his comments reflect the growing concern over safety amid an increasingly polarized environment surrounding immigration enforcement.
