Pro-ICE Rally Overrun in Minneapolis as Hundreds Chase Small Group Through Downtown
Minneapolis, MN — January 17, 2026 — A planned pro-ICE rally in downtown Minneapolis drew only a handful of supporters and was swiftly driven off by a much larger crowd of anti-ICE demonstrators Saturday afternoon amid rising tensions around federal immigration enforcement in the city.
The event, billed by organizers as the “March Against Minnesota Fraud,” was led by conservative activist Jake Lang, a controversial figure and pardoned January 6 rioter. Lang’s group, estimated at about a dozen people, gathered near Minneapolis City Hall to express support for ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations targeting sanctuary cities.
However, the demonstration was dwarfed by several hundred counter-protesters affiliated with anti-ICE and immigrant defense groups such as Defend Our Neighbors. Video footage shows the larger crowd chasing the smaller pro-ICE group through several blocks, hurling water balloons and shouting profanities. The pro-ICE contingent ultimately retreated to a nearby hotel under pressure.
Lang claimed he was assaulted during the clash, alleging an attempted stabbing that he states was blocked by a protective vest, and that he suffered a head wound requiring medical staples. Video from the scene shows his vehicle bleeding as he fled, with counter-protesters attempting to pull him from the car. Police have not confirmed any stabbings, and no major injuries were officially reported.
Minneapolis police maintained distance during much of the confrontation, though officers including a SWAT unit were present and warned of the potential use of chemical munitions to clear the streets if necessary.
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The incident comes amid a broader period of unrest in the Twin Cities tied to an expansive ICE operation that began in early January. Federal authorities deployed thousands of agents to enforce immigration laws in Minneapolis, resulting in over 2,500 arrests. Some protests against these operations have turned confrontational, with demonstrators blocking ICE vehicles and federal officers responding with pepper balls and tear gas.
On January 7, a separate altercation tied to the tensions resulted in the fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Renee Good during clashes with federal agents.
Legal developments this week include a federal judge’s ruling on January 16 barring ICE from detaining or using force against peaceful protesters, prompting further debate over enforcement tactics.
Political leaders are sharply divided. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz placed the National Guard on standby but has not deployed troops. Critics aligned with former Trump administration officials, including Stephen Miller, have accused Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey of inviting violence by failing to more aggressively protect ICE agents. A Department of Justice probe into Walz and Frey for allegedly impeding federal operations is reportedly underway.
Reactions from social media reflect stark polarization. Conservative users condemned the anti-ICE crowd as violent and called for federal intervention, while many on the left celebrated the counter-protest as a repudiation of what they describe as aggressive immigration enforcement.
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