Travel Advisory for House Democratic Staffers Due to Safety Concerns
House Democratic leadership has advised their staff not to travel to Minnesota this week, citing safety issues amid rising threats and recent attacks on Congress members. The aim is to ease local resource strains from ongoing protests against ICE.
An internal email, which Axios acquired, indicated that staff for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries recommended that Democratic lawmakers refrain from visiting Minnesota. While the note expressed support for anti-ICE efforts, it encouraged lawmakers to show solidarity from their local areas instead of potentially overburdening law enforcement in Minneapolis. Axios verified the email’s legitimacy through conversations with two congressional staff members.
The email elaborated, “It has become clear that the best thing for members of Congress to do now is to support their Minnesota colleagues by participating in days of action in their local districts this week.” It further cautioned that a visit to Minnesota might “strain local resources and not support our colleagues, city government, state government, local law enforcement, and most importantly, the people of Minneapolis.”
This guideline follows a rise in incidents targeting Democratic politicians. For instance, on January 27th, Representative Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) was confronted at a town hall event by a man demanding the abolition of ICE and impeachment of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. During the event, she was found in possession of an unknown substance, prompting a swift exit from the stage as attendees reacted. Omar later stated, “I’m a survivor, so this little agitator won’t threaten my job.”
Adding to the tense atmosphere, Congressman Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) reported that he was punched in the face during a party at the Sundance Film Festival. Frost described the attack as racially motivated, noting the assailant’s references to Trump and deportation threats. The individual was apprehended following the incident.
While some Democratic politicians had already traveled to Minnesota to support protests, as stated by Axios, figures like Senator Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) participated in local events. Warnock characterized the protests as part of a “moral moment” for the nation, claiming that “Donald Trump has unleashed evil onto our streets.” He referenced the deaths of George Floyd and others, advocating for a multiracial coalition to tackle what he sees as a national spiritual crisis.
In a separate incident, an individual linked to the protests, Mr. Lander, was arrested for allegedly obstructing ICE during deportation actions in 2025. Upon his arrest, Lander requested a judicial warrant and resisted removal but was eventually taken into custody. He accused Trump of aiming to intensify conflict through federal immigration measures and National Guard deployments.
In Minnesota, tensions have been escalating as protests against federal immigration enforcement unfold. Authorities declared an anti-Border Patrol protest outside the Maple Grove Hotel illegal after reports of property damage and violence. Several arrests were made, and some individuals had prior criminal records, including robbery and drunk driving.
These protests are occurring against the backdrop of Operation Metro Surge, a DHS initiative targeting violent criminal illegal aliens in sanctuary jurisdictions. This week, DHS made arrests in Minnesota involving individuals charged with serious offenses like murder and rape.
Despite the safety concerns, Democratic leaders continue to advocate for reforms or the abolition of ICE. Earlier this month, Jeffries criticized the agency for allegedly misusing taxpayer dollars and highlighted cases of abuse, calling for increased oversight and measures like mandatory body cameras and bans on undercover operations.
