ICE Beat
Welcome to ICE Beat, a new addition to the Quest starting Spring 2026. Each week, Eleanor Davis-Diver and Poppy Baxter will report on updates regarding the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's ongoing violation of the constitutional and human rights of Americans throughout the country. We will be reporting on both local protests and current events in Portland, as well as covering national news. We will also be providing resources for Reedies who would like to get involved with organizations in Portland and detailing ways to help and support our community.
Operation Metro Surge is an ongoing operation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These operations have significantly increased the presence of ICE agents in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. Since the operation began in December 2025, more than 2,000 ICE agents have been deployed to conduct enforcement actions across the Twin Cities.
DHS has issued daily press releases identifying individuals detained during the operation, often listing their names, photographs, and prior convictions. The releases share a consistent framing, with headlines such as “DHS Highlights More Criminal Illegal Aliens, Including Pedophiles, Domestic Abusers, and Violent Assailants Arrested Yesterday in Minneapolis,” and “More of the Worst of the Worst, Including Kidnappers, Pedophiles, Violent Assailants, and Perpetrators of Fraud Arrested Yesterday in Minnesota.”
While DHS has argued that the raids are necessary to combat fraud and restore public safety, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, along with the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul, filed a lawsuit challenging the operation. The complaint argues that “the massive deployment of armed agents to Minnesota bears no connection to [DHS’s] stated objective and instead reflects an alarming escalation of the Trump administration’s retaliatory actions toward the state.”
The lawsuit also references the killing of 37-year-old Renée Good, who was shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on January 7, 2026. The complaint argues that the killing violated the Tenth Amendment, stating that it guarantees Minnesota “inviolable sovereign authority to protect the health and wellbeing of all those who reside, work, or visit within their borders,” and that residents have the right to live without infringement of their constitutional rights and civil liberties.
Ellison filed the complaint against DHS on January 12. Twelve days later, on January 24, another Minnesota resident, Alex Pretti, was fatally shot by two federal immigration agents. Following Pretti’s death, Rep. Ilhan Omar, whose district includes Minneapolis, released a statement condemning the incident. “This appears to be an execution by immigration enforcement,” Omar said. “I am absolutely heartbroken, horrified, and appalled that federal agents murdered another member of our community.”
Despite the deaths and widespread criticism from Minnesota officials, the lawsuit filed by Ellison and the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul was denied by U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez on January 31.
The controversy surrounding Operation Metro Surge has sparked protests nationwide. On Friday, January 30, the People’s Union USA organized an economic blackout, urging Americans to stay home from work and school and halt consumer spending in protest. In response to planned walkouts, Reed College President Audrey Bilger released a statement on January 29, saying the college would remain open during the blackout. “Reed’s role is not to direct conscience,” Bilger said, “but to sustain the conditions in which thoughtful, responsible action remains possible.”
On Saturday, January 31, a group of protestors gathered at Elizabeth Caruthers Park and marched to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Southwest Portland. The Portland Police Bureau stated: “They observed the deployment of irritant gas by federal law enforcement and facilitated medical treatment of patients by firefighters and paramedics summoned to the scene.” The following day, on February 1, protestors met at Portland City Hall and began a march towards the ICE building. Within minutes of arriving at the facility, protestors were once again met with pepper bombs, irritant gas, and rubber bullets from federal agents.
“To those who continue to make these sickening decisions, go home, look in a mirror, and ask yourselves why you have gassed children,” said Portland mayor Keith Wilson. “Ask yourselves why you continue to work for an agency responsible for murders on American streets.”
Looking to get involved? Here are some great resources on Instagram!
@pdxcd (Portland Contra las Deportaciones)
@handsoffportland
@pirc_oregon (Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition)