Authorities in Minnesota took action on Monday, arresting protesters who had gathered outside a hotel in response to what was described as an escalation in the situation. Officials declared the gathering an unlawful assembly after determining it was “no longer considered peaceful.”
The protest took place at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott located in Maple Grove, Minnesota. Demonstrators were under the impression that U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino was staying at the hotel.
In a recent development, President Donald Trump announced that Bovino and several of his agents would be departing Minneapolis. This move is part of a broader reorganization aimed at bolstering immigration enforcement, which has come under scrutiny from both sides of the political aisle. Tensions have heightened following a recent incident where agents fatally shot an American who was filming Border Patrol activities over the weekend.
Taking the reins in this effort will be Border Czar Tom Homan, who is expected to lead the initiative within the state.
During Monday’s protest, demonstrators faced off with law enforcement outside the SpringHill Suites and Residence Inn by Marriott hotels in Maple Grove, Minnesota, as captured in an image by the Associated Press.
According to the Maple Grove police department, officers were dispatched to the hotel in response to reports of a protest. The situation reportedly escalated when some protesters began throwing objects at the authorities and causing property damage.
After police declared an unlawful assembly and issued a dispersal order, several people who refused to leave were arrested, authorities said.
“The Maple Grove Police Department respects and upholds the First Amendment rights of individuals to peacefully assemble and express their views. Our priority remains the safety and security of all residents, visitors, and property within our community,” a spokesperson for the police department said in a statement to KSTP.
“At that point, the activity was no longer considered peaceful. Individuals participating in criminal acts are not protected under the First Amendment and were subject to arrest,” the spokesperson added.
Maple Grove police officers stand during a protest outside SpringHill Suites and Residence Inn by Marriott hotels on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, in Maple Grove, Minnesota. (AP)
The Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and Hennepin Public Order Group all responded to the scene to assist Maple Grove officers.
The move to pull Bovino from Minneapolis came after he had faced backlash over his unsubstantiated claims that Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old U.S. citizen killed by Border Patrol agents, intended to “massacre” law enforcement, a characterization the White House has distanced the president from.
Pretti was shot and killed on Saturday by Border Patrol agents while recording federal immigration operations in Minneapolis. An ICU nurse, Pretti appeared to be attempting to attend to a woman agents knocked down when he was sprayed with an irritant, pushed to the ground and beaten. An agent was seen pulling Pretti’s gun from his waistband before other agents fired several shots and killed him.
Some reports stated Bovino was removed from his role as Border Patrol “commander-at-large” and will return to his former job as chief patrol agent in El Centro, California, but Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said he has “NOT been relieved of his duties” and remains a “key part of the President’s team.”
Law enforcement officers stand during a protest outside SpringHill Suites and Residence Inn by Marriott hotels on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, in Maple Grove, Minnesota. (AP)
Bovino also reportedly had access to his social media accounts stripped over his public comments.
The White House also sought to distance itself from comments by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who called Pretti a “domestic terrorist,” and Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller, who labeled the man as a “would-be assassin,” with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt saying she has “not heard the president characterize” Pretti that way.
The shooting of Pretti followed recent unrest over the ICE-involved killing of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis earlier this month.
