Target faces protests after ICE detains US citizen – Business News
Target has come underneath stress from protesters and pols in its home state of Minnesota after ICE brokers detained two staff of the large box retailer who had been US residents.
Federal immigration brokers detained the employees inside a Richfield, Minn., store on Jan. 8 after a confrontation that started within the parking zone and spilled into the vestibule, in line with native officers and witness accounts.
One of the staff shouted, “I’m literally a US citizen!” as brokers escorted him towards a vehicle, The Wall Street Journal famous.
Federal brokers entered a St. Paul store — with Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino — with out a warrant and detained two US residents, on January 8, 2026. AP
The duo, Jonathan Aguilar Garcia and Christian Miranda Romano, had been doing drive-up responsibility after they had been stopped by brokers led by a senior US Border Patrol commander, officers stated.
Minnesota state Rep. Michael Howard stated the brokers entered the store with out a warrant and bodily detained the employees, whereas relations and witnesses alleged the incident amounted to racial profiling.
The Department of Homeland Security later stated on social media that one particular person had been arrested for “assaulting a federal law enforcement offers [sic],” which the defendants’ households and native officers denied.
Both staff had been finally launched.
One was reportedly dropped off injured and crying at a close by Walmart parking zone whereas the opposite was briefly taken to a detention middle earlier than being let go.
The Post has sought remark from Target, DHS, ICE and US Customs and Border Protection.
Garcia and Romano weren’t instantly out there for remark.
Protests erupted outdoors the Richfield Target store days after the detentions, with demonstrators demanding the retailer take steps to guard staff and prospects from federal immigration brokers working on its property.
US CBP brokers are seen outdoors of a Target store in St. Paul, Minn., on Sunday. AP
Activists chanted, held indicators and confronted store management during a Saturday demonstration that drew native residents and faith-based teams.
Organizers stated they requested Target to coach staff on how to answer immigration brokers, together with informing them that entry to non-public areas of shops requires a signed warrant.
Protesters additionally urged the company to publicly oppose immigration enforcement actions at its areas, arguing that Target’s silence had fueled anger in a neighborhood already on edge.
“It’s odd for them at this moment, when Minnesota is under sort of occupation, that they are silent,” stated Ben Whalen, a former Richfield City Council member who helped manage the protest.
Video from Richfield, Minnesota reveals BP brokers detaining a teenager working at a Target store. The teen recognized himself as a U.S. citizen and had a passport on him, despite the fact that U.S. residents should not legally required to show their citizenship to ICE.pic.twitter.com/0PGTD2o2RH— WarMonitor (@TheWarMonitor) January 8, 2026
Whalen stated the group met with the store’s supervisor to press for clearer insurance policies and stronger protections for workers following the incident.
Federal immigration enforcement has surged throughout Minnesota in latest weeks, with ICE and Border Patrol brokers conducting operations in residential neighborhoods, retail parking heaps and inside big-box shops.
The exercise intensified following a main federal deployment that has netted tons of of unlawful immigrants — together with dozens accused of critical violent offenses — and rattled residents, in line with officers.
Tensions exploded after the Jan. 7 deadly taking pictures of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old US citizen, by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, with the incident sparking days of protests and sharp political backlash.
Demonstrators flooded streets and gathered outdoors authorities buildings and federal targets, with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and different officers calling for ICE to go away the town as investigations into the taking pictures proceed and public anger over the federal presence reveals no signal of easing.
Graffiti studying “We’ll do it again, ICE out now!” is seen on the outside wall of a Target store in Minneapolis on Jan. 11. AFP through Getty Images
In the early section of the operation, brokers arrested roughly 300 people in a two-day sweep within the Minneapolis space, in line with federal officers, with a minimum of 10 recognized as accused killers or violent little one intercourse offenders.
Federal immigration enforcement has performed out at main retailers different than Target throughout Minnesota.
Immigration officers have detained people inside Walmart shops and in parking heaps across the Twin Cities in latest days, in line with native officers.
Bovino walks out of a Target store in St. Paul on Sunday. AP
Videos circulating online seem to show brokers confronting people inside shops and utilizing retail areas as staging areas whereas operations are underway.
Home Depot parking heaps have equally develop into frequent websites of enforcement exercise, significantly as a result of day laborers — many of them immigrants — have long gathered there looking for short-term construction work.
Activists have urged the company to intervene or discourage the raids, however Home Depot has stated federal brokers are permitted to operate in publicly accessible areas and that the company doesn’t coordinate with ICE or CBP.
The Post has sought remark from Walmart and Home Depot.
