(The College Fix) — A quartet of University of Minnesota students chained themselves to a campus building on Friday afternoon to demand the school president declare UMN a sanctuary campus and sever all ties with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, aka ICE.
According to The Minnesota Daily, the four chained students were joined by two others at Morrill Hall, and represented the groups Young Democratic Socialists of America, Students for Justice in Palestine, and Students for a Democratic Society.
The chained activists, who at times chanted “Fuck ICE! ICE out!” said they planned to remain until their demands were met. Additional demands included:
- “An official statement declaring ICE unwelcome on campus”
- “A ban on ICE use of university parking facilities”
- “Activation of lockdown protocols if ICE trespasses”
- “Repeal of restrictions on campus demonstrations”
- “Requirements that businesses leasing university property prohibit ICE agents”
- “Online course options” through the end of current ICE operations
But Unicorn Riot reports the protest lasted just a bit over an hour as UMN police arrested three of the remaining four Friday afternoon following warnings they “could face academic discipline” if they did not leave.
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More arrested parties from the U of M later in the day on Friday. Protesters reportedly chained themselves at Morrill Hall to demand that UMN be a 'sanctuary campus.'Hannah Wilkins, 20, Bloomington, trespassing
Miles Robert Martig, 20, Minneapolis, trespassing
Hannah Grace… pic.twitter.com/RjALPuLber— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) February 8, 2026
Griffin Peterson, one of the chained who heeded cops’ warnings before arrest (over concerns “about his academic standing”), claimed he’s heard stories “from people who are locked in their dorms every single day since they’ve gotten [here] because they’re so scared of ICE.”
Fellow chainee Robbie Logan said she was there for “the students who are afraid to leave their dorms [and] their apartments,” as well as for faculty and others concerned about administrative retaliation.
Protester Miles Martig even claimed his “housemates in […] community housing are afraid to keep the windows open.”
Minneapolis City Council Member Robin Wonsley praised the activists for standing up to the “Department of Homeland Security occupation.”
“Whether it’s standing in solidarity and demanding a free Palestine, whether it’s demanding that we acknowledge the lives and the values of Black lives in our country and on campus,” Wonsley said.
“Governor Walz’s saying great words. Mayor Frey’s delivering great, strongly worded letters to the [Trump] administration. We know that is not sufficient to actually fight back against this fascism.”
Students for a Democratic Society’s Juliet Murphy added that “creeping” ICE vehicles were like “black bugs eyeing crowds as they stalk toward their next victim.”
This article was originally published by The College Fix.
