Friday, 2025 On Oct. 24, protesters gather outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building at Fort Snelling to protest the presence of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)
Hundreds of people gathered outside the Whipple federal building at Fort Snelling on Friday to protest the presence of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who is leading the Trump administration’s efforts to detain and deport millions of immigrants.
Noem held a press conference to name immigrants who have committed crimes in the administration’s custody. She spoke behind a table strewn with seized firearms and bags of marijuana, meth and fentanyl.
Many protesters feared Noem’s presence signaled the start of a large-scale immigration enforcement effort. was released in Chicago last month.
But Noem’s performance was meant to celebrate the arrests made by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in St. Paul.
“I’m here today to ask all the people in Minnesota, all the people of the Midwest and all of our country to support your law enforcement officers, support them and help protect them when they go out and do their jobs,” Noem said.
Friday, 2025 On October 24, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem holds a press conference in Minneapolis to discuss ICE operations and immigration enforcement in Minnesota. (Photo by Glen Stubbe/Minnesota Reformer)
Dozens of clergy joined the protest, leading demonstrators in songs such as “This Little Light of Mine” and “We Shall Not Be Moved.”
Craig Loya, bishop of the Minnesota Episcopal Church, preached a message of inclusion.
“As long as I have breath, I will continue to preach and preach that diversity makes us stronger and that there is no clearer moral cause than to stand with the immigrant and the outsider because that is how God has embraced each of us,” Loya said.
Protesters demonstrated right outside the glass doors of the Whipple Building, many holding signs and chanting anti-ICE chants.
“No more Minnesota nice. We don’t want your fascist ICE,” protesters chanted.
The hymns did not reach the windowless room in the Whipple Building where Noem spoke.
Craig Loya, Bishop of the Episcopal Church of Minnesota, 2025 October 24 spoke at a protest outside the federal Whipple Building at Fort Snelling. (Photo by Michelle Griffith/Minnesota Reformer)
Asked if President Donald Trump would deploy the National Guard or other federal law enforcement to the Twin Cities, Noem said “that’s up to the president.”
But in the coming weeks, thousands of newly trained ICE officers are expected to join field offices, including St. Paul, that will be paid for by funding approved in July.
According to Noem, DHS broke precedent by asking for a large amount of personal data claims and other federal agencies assist in deportation; arresting people courthouse; sending immigrants to countries with which they are not related and in some cases known for human rights violations; and in defiance of court orders.
Immigration agents arrested the roofing brigade in St October 3 The officers arrived in unmarked vehicles and refused to show their identities, according to lawyers. Some wore masks.
When asked about the incident, Noem said that “our agents always strictly follow the laws and regulations and protocols for every operation that they do, so they always identify themselves and make sure people know who they are.”
Several Minnesota Democratic lawmakers also took part in the protest, including DFL state Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura, who said she attended the protest to send a message to Noem that she and ICE are not welcome in Minnesota.
“We know a lot about what they’re doing — the bottom line is just fear,” Sencer-Mura said. “Always trying to fight it with love and community is a good way to just show up.”