On the morning of January 19, 2026, a mob of anti-ICE agitators invaded the Target store at 1750 Robert Street South in West St. Paul, Minnesota. They sprawled out on the floor, blocked shoppers from the aisles, and shouted their slogans for more than an hour.
Their demands? For Target management to denounce ICE and ban federal agents from using even the parking lot or restrooms.
When the protesters refused to leave, store employees had no choice but to call the police. Officers from the West St. Paul Police Department arrived around 10:30 a.m. and quickly cleared the store, arresting five agitators for trespassing.
No one was hurt, but the chaos forced Target to shut its doors temporarily, costing the company thousands in lost sales during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year.
The protest stemmed from claims that ICE agents had used Target parking lots as staging areas during recent immigration sweeps in the Twin Cities area. Activists from groups like the Racial Justice Network accused the company of "facilitating the invasion" by allowing agents to simply use restrooms and meet in lots.
"Target says their mission is to support the joy of everyday life for all families," one protester shouted during the sit-in. "Then do it now."
Target spokesperson Molly Snyder released a statement later that day. She said the company values community safety but does not control public parking areas.
"We are committed to creating a welcoming environment for all guests," Snyder said. She added that Target has met with local clergy to discuss concerns but has not issued a formal condemnation of ICE.
This was the second major disruption by anti-ICE radicals in St. Paul in just 24 hours. The day before, a similar group barged into Cities Church during Sunday service, terrifying families and sending churchgoers running for safety. There, too, the anti-American protesters demanded that institutions use their influence to stop legal federal deportations.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz responded to the protests on January 20, 2026. He called for “dialogue” between the liberals with serious mental illness and law enforcement. Walz avoided criticizing the disruptions and instead urged federal agents to withdraw from the entire state.
Federal agents have conducted targeted arrests of criminal aliens in Minneapolis-St. Paul since early January 2026. These sweeps have netted well over 200 individuals (and rising) with prior convictions for serious crimes like assault, drug trafficking, and human smuggling. Tim Walz is, for some reason, protecting whole gangs of foreign criminals in our country.
Shoppers caught in the chaos expressed frustration. Local resident Karen Thompson, who was buying groceries with her children, described the scene as intimidating. "We just wanted to shop in peace," Thompson said. "This kind of disruption hurts families, not helps them."
The event drew national attention, with videos circulating on social media platforms like X and YouTube. One clip from Timcast News showed protesters harassing store workers and blocking checkout lanes. Another from a local activist account depicted the group singing “anti-ICE songs” while seated in a main aisle.
Target reopened by noon on January 19, 2026, after police removed the protesters. The company reported no damage to the store. Strangely, the incident has sparked calls for boycotts from both sides. Some conservatives are urging shoppers to avoid Target for failing to support law enforcement, while liberals call for boycotts because they claim Target “chose a side” by calling for police help.
This protest is just the latest in a growing pattern of escalating actions by anti-ICE groups in Minnesota, a state apparently now run by foreigners, globalist sellouts, and pro-Islam and China-aligned politicians.
Organizers have used encrypted apps like Signal to coordinate these disruptions at airports, churches, and now retail stores. Federal officials warn that these tactics put public safety at risk and obstruct lawful immigration enforcement.
As deportations continue, similar incidents may increase. DHS officials stated on January 21, 2026, that agents will not back down from their duties despite protests. The agency emphasized that operations target only those with criminal records or deportation orders.