A public school in Minneapolis was closed as a safety precaution following a fatal shooting involving a federal agent. This incident has sparked protests against ICE, with demonstrators condemning the Trump administration.
Local Democratic leaders, including governors and mayors, are urging ICE to withdraw from the city entirely.
“All MPS-sponsored programs, activities, athletics, and community education, including adult education, are canceled,” the district announced. “Due to safety concerns from today’s events, we have decided to close schools on Thursday, January 8, 2026, and Friday, January 9, 2026.” The district indicated that e-learning would not be an option unless it involves severe weather. They also plan to collaborate with local officials on emergency preparedness.
Some reports suggest that this closure was influenced by an incident where U.S. Border Patrol agents detained staff members from Roosevelt High School for allegedly interfering with their operations.
An anonymous school official recounted a tense moment, saying, “I told this guy to leave the schoolyard, and he bumped into me, claiming I pushed him while trying to push me down.” This individual expressed disbelief at the behavior displayed by some of the protesters, saying, “They don’t care. They’re just animals. I’ve never seen people act like this.”
In contrast, the Department of Homeland Security provided a different narrative, claiming their officers were pursuing a protester when they were blocked by demonstrators. According to them, the situation escalated when a teacher attacked Border Patrol agents. DHS also stated that no tear gas was used, a claim that witnesses have disputed.
Witnesses offered their own accounts of the chaos. Evan Johnson, who was nearby walking his dog, shared, “Suddenly, several high school kids ran toward me, looking scared. A woman told one boy to get in her car, asking if he was scared because ‘ICE is here.’”
DHS insisted that schools, students, and staff were never the targets in these confrontations, and had it not been for the actions of a specific individual, their agents would not have been present near the school.
