Outside a Minnesota hotel housing ICE and Border Patrol agents, protesters didn’t chant. They didn’t shout. They… sang. In a moment that appeared surreal against the backdrop of nationwide immigration crackdowns, a group of Minnesotans gathered beneath hotel windows and delivered a message in harmony: it’s not too late to walk away. The footage shows residents calmly singing to federal agents, urging them to reconsider their role in deportations that have torn families apart across the Midwest and beyond.
As you can see above, “It’s okay to change your mind,” the singers repeat. “Show us your courage.”
The scene landed hard online — especially on Reddit, where commenters called it “peak Minnesota.” Others were stunned by the sound itself and how they somehow managed to sing calmly and in tune. “How do they sound so good??” one commenter asked, prompting affectionate explanations about the state’s deep Lutheran and choral traditions. “There is nothing more dignifying and humanizing than singing together,” another wrote.
But the performance has obviously come following chaotic events tied to ICE operations in Minnesota, including mounting public pressure and two fatal shootings that have intensified scrutiny on the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement strategy. Reports now suggest ICE is preparing to leave the state, a move many residents credit to sustained public resistance.
While it’s more likely the withdrawal stems from federal directives and political fallout than a single act of protest, Minnesotans aren’t underselling what collective pressure can do. As one commenter put it, “Shining a light and reminding them of their humanity is very powerful.”
That humanity is central to why the moment resonated so deeply. One commenter, a Minnesota resident with legal documentation, described living in fear despite doing everything “right.” “My mental health has been taking a toll,” they wrote. “Minnesota folk have always made me feel like I belong here… thank you Minnesota for being on the right side of history.”
Others framed the singing as a chance for ICE agents who took the job for a paycheck or stability to choose differently. “It doesn’t imply zero accountability,” one commenter noted. “We want them to change their mind and stop this.”
The tone stood in stark contrast to the administration’s broader posture on immigration, which has leaned heavily on intimidation, mass enforcement, and the quiet normalization of cruelty. In neighboring states like Ohio, communities are bracing for ICE surges tied to the expiration of Temporary Protected Status, with families fearing sudden disappearances and children left behind.
Minnesota’s response offered another vision: resistance without dehumanization, protest without spectacle. No barricades. No tear gas. Just voices rising together outside a hotel, reminding the people inside that they still have choices.
