Chaos erupted for several hours Tuesday on East Lake Street in Minneapolis following false social media reports of immigration raids taking place near Bloomington Avenue on the city’s south side.
Crowds started forming around mid-morning and escalated to pushing, shoving, and throwing trash, while others tried to block law enforcement vehicles from driving in the area.
🚨BREAKING: Apparent ICE, human trafficking and drug raid just took place on the streets of Minneapolis.
This is what happened… pic.twitter.com/osfbGqLbBA
— Nick shirley (@nickshirleyy) June 3, 2025
After noon, information started trickling out from the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) and Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) refuting that immigration enforcement was taking place.
In a social media statement, MPD said it hadn’t even been made aware that the federal activity was taking place, but later learned it involved a search warrant related to drugs and money laundering. MPD was requested to assist with crowd control and maintain public safety, it said.
MPD responded to a request to assist with crowd control and to help ensure public safety. Officers supported federal law enforcement in safely departing the area. MPD has since cleared the scene.
— Minneapolis Police (@MinneapolisPD) June 3, 2025
HCSO issued a similar statement saying it partnered with federal agencies on a criminal investigation and that part of the investigation included the execution of multiple search warrants at multiple locations and was not related to immigration enforcement.
— Hennepin Sheriff (@HennepinSheriff) June 3, 2025
As tensions escalated with protesters, other first responders were advised to avoid or use caution in the area. There had been several separate reports of incidents where medical responders were needed, including a baby locked in a vehicle, a person down in the street possibly from tear gas, a protester being struck by a vehicle, and a report of a vehicle striking a pole a few blocks away. Responders were delayed from responding in nearly every case, according to dispatch audio, over concerns about the protester activity.
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"Very crowded and very hostile" crowd at the location of E Lake St and Bloomington, which is impeding medical resources.12:45
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) June 3, 2025
Mayor Jacob Frey issued a statement on social media just before 2 p.m. reiterating that the activity was related to a drug and money laundering warrant being executed and that MPD’s only role was crowd control.
The Minneapolis Police Department’s only role was assisting with crowd control and keeping the community safe as a large number of residents and bystanders had gathered at the scene. They have not been involved in anything related to immigration enforcement.
— Mayor Jacob Frey (@MayorFrey) June 3, 2025
As the afternoon wore on, several elected officials made statements on social media decrying the federal activity, including Minneapolis City Council Member Jeremiah Ellison, who referred to the law enforcement responders present as “cowards” and “faux-military clowns.”
Democratic Minneapolis City Council Member Jeremiah Ellison, Keith Ellison's son, describes federal law enforcement executing a reported drug and money laundering warrant as "faux-military clowns." pic.twitter.com/uCrFpDgiVv
— Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) June 4, 2025
State Senator and Minneapolis mayoral candidate Omar Fateh posted a statement on social media referring to the federal activity as “blatant fascism.”
We are now seeing officers put hands on the crowd that only wants to keep our neighborhoods and residents safe. This is wholly unacceptable and not in line with our public safety goals. Our communities will continue to push back on the blatant fascism on display here.
— Omar Fateh (@OmarFatehMN) June 3, 2025
Information was later reported by media that two restaurant locations belonging to Taqueria y Birrieria las Cuatro Milpas were raided, one at Lake Street and Bloomington Avenue, and another in the city of Bloomington. The report again reiterated that the raids were reportedly connected to search warrants related to drugs and money laundering.
NEW: Sheriff Dawanna Witt confirms at a press conference that yesterday's law enforcement operation in Minneapolis "was one of eight search warrants for a transnational criminal organization."
Several elected Democrats criticized the operation, objecting to the use of "military… pic.twitter.com/4Ev823Y506
— Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) June 4, 2025
KARE 11 reported that a spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) called the event a “groundbreaking criminal operation,” and said it was the first in Minnesota “under the Homeland Security Task Force umbrella — marking a new chapter in how we confront complex, multidimensional threats.”
No arrests were made related to the activity on Tuesday, and information was not immediately available on when or whether arrests or charges will be forthcoming.
Alpha News will continue to follow developments in this story.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
