Minneapolis' protest legacy fuels 2026 resistance to ICE and policing policies

In a conversation with host Perry Bacon, University of Minnesota sociologist Michelle Phelps linked Minneapolis' 2026 anti-ICE actions to the extensive organizing that emerged from the 2020 protests. She highlighted that pre-existing neighbor networks and shared contact lists enabled swift mobilization when federal immigration agents arrived. Phelps described a range of tactics, from distributing whistles to conducting legal-observer trainings, that helped residents protect one another and challenge ICE operations.

Although the federal raids have lessened in visibility, community groups remain active, focusing on food, rent, and medical assistance for those impacted. The interview also explored how the city’s political landscape, split between centrist and progressive Democrats, influences ongoing debates about police reform and public safety. Phelps emphasized that while the immediate battle against ICE has eased, the underlying vulnerabilities of immigrant communities persist.