On Thursday night, a significant protest unfolded outside a Hilton hotel in Minneapolis, located near the University of Minnesota, leading to the arrest of at least 12 individuals opposing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The demonstration began with a few agitators and quickly grew to a crowd estimated between 150 and 175 people.
The scene outside the Graduate by Hilton Hotel was marked by a cacophony of noise as agitators used whistles, pots, and pans to amplify their presence. Metal barricades were shaken, and the clamor included an unusual musical note with one protester playing a trombone. The protest, which started around 9 p.m., escalated over the next couple of hours.
As the night progressed, law enforcement moved in to manage the situation. Officers arrived on the scene, announcing the assembly as unlawful through loudspeakers and instructing the crowd to disperse. This led to a brief standoff between the police and some of the remaining protesters before the group began to dissipate.
The University of Minnesota released a statement confirming the arrests: 11 individuals faced charges of disorderly conduct, while one was charged with property damage. The events underscore the ongoing tensions surrounding ICE activities and the passionate responses they evoke among certain groups.
Images captured during the demonstration show law enforcement’s response to the anti-ICE protest, emphasizing the charged atmosphere that enveloped the area near the university on February 5, 2026.
In a statement, the university said 12 people were arrested in total — 11 for disorderly conduct and one for damage to property.
The university said officers issued five separate orders to disperse before making arrests. Authorities said agitators had been allowed to assemble outside the hotel for more than 13 hours across four separate protest events before police intervened, citing the need to balance free speech rights with public safety.
“The University and UMPD, as part of our mission, support the right to engage in peaceful protest and are committed to the safety of our campus community,” the university said in a statement.
Protesters gather along barricades during an anti-ICE demonstration outside the Graduate by Hilton Minneapolis near the University of Minnesota on Feb. 5, 2026. (Fox)
University officials said the Graduate by Hilton Minneapolis is not owned or operated by the university, but sits on university-owned land, making campus police responsible for law enforcement at the site.
Demonstrations have occurred weekly since January, usually on Thursdays, over claims that ICE agents had previously stayed at the hotel.
Aerial footage shows law enforcement and protesters during an anti-ICE demonstration outside Graduate by Hilton Minneapolis near the University of Minnesota on Feb. 5, 2026. (Fox)
It comes as border czar Tom Homan announced the immediate drawdown of 700 personnel from Minnesota, effective Wednesday, though 2,000 officers will remain.
Minneapolis has become a flash point for clashes between federal immigration enforcement agents and agitators, particularly after the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
