Executive Summary
- Federal agents from the DEA, ICE, and FBI conducted a raid on Bro-Tex, a paper distribution company in St. Paul, Minnesota.
- The operation drew a protest of several hundred people who attempted to block federal vehicles from leaving the scene.
- Federal agents used chemical irritants, pepper spray, and physical force to disperse the crowd and clear a path for their vehicles.
- An ICE spokesperson confirmed the raid was part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, while the St. Paul mayor expressed concern over the federal action.
A federal law enforcement operation at a paper distribution company in St. Paul, Minnesota, escalated into a tense confrontation on Tuesday, as agents clashed with hundreds of protesters who gathered at the scene. The raid was conducted by dozens of agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
An ICE spokesperson confirmed that officers were serving a search warrant as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation. In a statement, the agency said there was no threat to public safety. While the nature of the investigation was not disclosed, one witness reported seeing at least two individuals being placed in zip ties and led into a van by federal agents. The company targeted, Bro-Tex, had not provided a comment at the time of publication.
As the operation unfolded, protesters mobilized, forming a perimeter and chanting in opposition to the federal presence. The situation intensified when demonstrators linked arms to block federal vehicles from leaving the premises. In response, agents deployed chemical irritants and pepper spray into the crowd. Video and witness accounts describe officers physically moving protesters and using vehicles to push through the demonstration line.
Miguel Hernandez, a representative from the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee, criticized what he called a “blatant show of cruelty” and demanded accountability. The raid comes after a recent announcement by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem regarding the deployment of thousands of new ICE agents nationwide, including in St. Paul, following a significant budget increase for the agency.
Official and Community Response
Notably, the St. Paul Police Department was not present at the scene. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter later arrived and spoke with demonstrators, releasing a statement expressing his “concern and fear this raises for our workers, families and entire community.” He affirmed that city officers do not participate in such federal actions. The investigation remains active, and it is important to note that any individuals detained are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.