Violent anti-deportation protesters targeted a second Minnesota hotel Monday night that they believed was housing immigration officials, but this time local police intervened forcefully, dispersing the crowd and making arrests after property damage and attacks on officers.
According to footage and a statement from the Maple Grove Police Department, officers ordered protesters to leave the area around a SpringHill Suites hotel after objects were thrown at law enforcement and damage was reported. Dozens of state and local officers wearing riot gear secured the property beginning around 8 p.m. and fully cleared the area by 10 p.m. DCNF footage showed several protesters being arrested as police moved in to restore order.
The response marked a sharp contrast with a similar incident the night before in Minneapolis, where activists rioted outside another hotel believed to be housing federal immigration agents. During that earlier confrontation, protesters smashed windows, blocked a roadway, and occupied the site for more than two hours.
Federal agents ultimately dispersed the crowd, including one agent who appeared visibly injured, while the Minneapolis Police Department and state authorities offered minimal assistance. State officials later said they had planned to make arrests shortly before federal agents deployed chemical irritants.
At Monday’s protest in Maple Grove, demonstrators engaged in disruptive and aggressive behavior. Video showed protesters blowing whistles, flashing middle fingers at officers, wrapping themselves in caution tape, banging a pot with a stick, playing an accordion, and screaming loudly. As tensions escalated, an officer used a loudspeaker to order the crowd to leave peacefully. When protesters refused, police chased several individuals through a parking lot in an effort to break up the gathering.
“You pieces of shit! Who are you serving and protecting?” one protester shouted as officers ran along a sidewalk in a tight formation.
The Maple Grove Police Department emphasized that while peaceful protest is protected, criminal behavior is not. “The Maple Grove Police Department respects and upholds the First Amendment rights of individuals to peacefully assemble and express their views,” the department said. “Individuals participating in criminal acts are not protected under the First Amendment and were subject to arrest.” The department also thanked state and county law enforcement agencies for assisting with the response.
Protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement have continued across Minnesota for weeks following the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement operations in the state. Tensions have been fueled by two fatal encounters between federal agents and protesters. On Jan. 7, protester Renee Good was shot and killed in Minneapolis, followed by the shooting death of Alex Pretti on Saturday during another confrontation.
HAPPENING NOW: Unlawful assembly declared in Maple Grove as Anti-ICE activists target a hotel they believe Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino is staying , already seen several arrests @DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/0x35veb4VJ
— Jorge Ventura Media (@VenturaReport) January 27, 2026
Minnesota ICE Watch, an activist network with which Good had volunteered, promoted Monday’s hotel protest by posting a flyer on Instagram outlining plans to target the SpringHill Suites.
Local law enforcement agencies have warned that resources are strained. The Minneapolis Police Department has said staffing shortages, with ranks down roughly one-third, have made it difficult to respond effectively to the ongoing unrest. President Donald Trump warned on Jan. 15 that he would consider invoking a military response if local officials failed to adequately protect federal agents.
The Department of Homeland Security has previously criticized the Minneapolis Police Department for not doing enough to help federal authorities quell riots. However, DHS praised the Maple Grove response. “Local Minnesota Police arrested violent rioters last night,” the agency wrote in a post on X Tuesday. “Glad to see some state and local government cooperation. It’s a start!”
Activists claimed Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino was staying at the SpringHill Suites during Monday’s protest. Bovino is reportedly planning to leave Minnesota by Tuesday as tensions continue to simmer across the state.
[READ MORE: Fetterman Calls For Noem To Be Fired]
