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On Thursday night, authorities arrested at least 12 individuals protesting against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) outside a Hilton hotel in Minneapolis, located near the University of Minnesota.
Footage captured a small group of demonstrators assembling outside the Graduate by Hilton Hotel around 9 p.m. The gathering quickly expanded, drawing between 150 to 175 participants.
The protesters made their presence known by blowing whistles, clanging pots and pans, and shaking metal barricades. Among them, one person was notably playing a trombone.
Approximately two hours after the demonstration began, police moved in, announcing through a loudspeaker that the assembly was unlawful and instructing the crowd to leave. Video evidence showed a brief confrontation between officers and the remaining protesters before the crowd started to disperse.
Police responded to the anti-ICE protest outside the Graduate by Hilton Minneapolis near the University of Minnesota on February 5, 2026. (Fox)
In a statement, the university said 12 people were arrested in total — 11 for disorderly conduct and one for damage to property.
The university said officers issued five separate orders to disperse before making arrests. Authorities said agitators had been allowed to assemble outside the hotel for more than 13 hours across four separate protest events before police intervened, citing the need to balance free speech rights with public safety.
“The University and UMPD, as part of our mission, support the right to engage in peaceful protest and are committed to the safety of our campus community,” the university said in a statement.
Protesters gather along barricades during an anti-ICE demonstration outside the Graduate by Hilton Minneapolis near the University of Minnesota on Feb. 5, 2026. (Fox)
University officials said the Graduate by Hilton Minneapolis is not owned or operated by the university, but sits on university-owned land, making campus police responsible for law enforcement at the site.
Demonstrations have occurred weekly since January, usually on Thursdays, over claims that ICE agents had previously stayed at the hotel.
Aerial footage shows law enforcement and protesters during an anti-ICE demonstration outside Graduate by Hilton Minneapolis near the University of Minnesota on Feb. 5, 2026. (Fox)
It comes as border czar Tom Homan announced the immediate drawdown of 700 personnel from Minnesota, effective Wednesday, though 2,000 officers will remain.
Minneapolis has become a flash point for clashes between federal immigration enforcement agents and agitators, particularly after the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.