Minneapolis Police Arrest About 100 Clergy Praying in Anti-ICE Airport Shutdown

About 100 clergy and faith leaders were arrested Friday after blocking roads at Terminal 1 of Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport during a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation flights, organizers said.

“About 100 clergy were arrested at Minneapolis−St”

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Participants knelt, prayed, sang hymns and shared testimony about people detained by ICE as part of a coordinated action called ICE Out of Minnesota: A Day of Truth and Freedom.

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Organizers and several outlets reported the arrests and the prayerful nature of the demonstration, and said the action targeted airlines, notably Delta Air Lines and Signature Aviation, which protesters say cooperate with deportation flights.

Organizers and some outlets also linked the protests to broader unrest following the Jan. 7 fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent.

Law enforcement and airport officials reported that some demonstrators exceeded the terms of a permit.

Officials said arrests were made to protect airport operations.

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Arrested clergy were cited for misdemeanors such as trespassing and failure to comply and were later released, according to several outlets.

The Metropolitan Airports Commission and airport police framed the action as a disruption to Terminal 1 access and said measures were taken to protect safety and security.

Organizers and advocacy groups, by contrast, described the arrests as peaceful civil disobedience and emphasized prayer and testimony by clergy and airport workers.

The arrests were part of a wider, statewide mobilization.

“Ice raids and other federal activity in Minnesota have sparked protests across the state”

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Organizers described an economic blackout or general strike, which was variably reported as closing more than 700 businesses or about 600.

The action was intended to pressure airlines and federal officials, and labor unions, progressive groups and multiple faith communities participated.

The action followed weeks of daily demonstrations after the Jan. 7 death of Renee Good.

It included rallies downtown and smaller actions at federal buildings, and organizers said communities stayed home from work and school in solidarity.

Video and eyewitness accounts circulated widely.

Several outlets described clergy kneeling in prayer as police moved in.

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Some reports said officers pulled people off the ground and zip-tied or bused away demonstrators who were not resisting.

Coverage varied in tone: tabloid and activist outlets highlighted emotional scenes and accused authorities of policing religious expression, while mainstream outlets emphasized crowd control, permit limits and airport access.

Extreme cold was also reported, underscoring the scale of participation despite frigid temperatures.

Reporting diverges on certain factual claims and on the long-term implications.

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Organizers and some outlets say MSP has handled roughly 2,000 deportations and that ICE arrested airport workers.

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Authorities and other outlets focus on permit enforcement and have not confirmed all organizer figures.

Separate coverage raised legal questions about the treatment of detained children and the use of federal force.

Overall, the sources present overlapping core facts, including clergy arrests, prayerful protest, permit and crowd-control issues, and wider protests tied to the Renee Good case.

They vary significantly in emphasis, tone, and the specific figures they report.