It is difficult for ordinary people to directly confront ICE agents. Regardless of how aggressive or heavy-handed they may appear, they are still classified as government officers. Like police, they operate with significant legal protections. It is not uncommon to see ICE agents confront or intimidate onlookers who are simply recording an arrest. Many people have learned the hard way that standing too close or asking questions can quickly escalate into threats or detention. Because of this, communities looking to push back have had to find alternative methods that do not put individuals directly in harm’s way. In Minnesota, protesters came up with what many online described as a smarter approach. Instead of confronting ICE agents during operations, they chose to act when the agents were most vulnerable, while they were off duty and asleep.
A group of Minnesota protesters gathered late at night near a hotel where ICE agents were reportedly staying. Rather than engaging face to face, they collectively made loud noise outside the hotel, creating a sustained disturbance. An onlooker recorded the scene, and the video quickly spread online.
In the footage, Minnesota protesters can be seen lining up along the sidewalk, stretching far down the block. Music blares, people shout, and the general hubbub is loud enough to be clearly heard even from a distance. Even through a phone recording, the noise feels overwhelming. It is hard not to imagine what it must have been like inside the hotel rooms.
This was not the first time such tactics had been used. Protesters in other cities, including Charlotte, have reportedly used similar methods to disrupt ICE activity without directly interfering with arrests. The strategy appears to focus on psychological pressure rather than physical confrontation.
Online reactions to the video were mixed but intense. Many viewers found the situation amusing or satisfying. “Hilarious, but just imagine being a random guy on a business trip,” one user commented. Others pointed out that the noise would not only affect ICE agents but also regular hotel guests. “Honestly, I’m with the protesters, but little Timmy probably isn’t making it to his 8 a.m. hockey game,” another person wrote.
Still, the majority seemed to side with the protesters. Some argued that inconvenience was a small price to pay under the circumstances. One user wrote, “I feel like they could get a refund if needed. It’s a hassle for sure, but when you let this kind of enforcement roam around, everybody loses.”
Another commenter shared a personal experience, recalling a stay at a hotel in Pennsylvania shortly after Trump took office. According to them, the hotel was filled with law enforcement, lobby TVs were tuned to Fox News, and the parking lot was packed with marked and unmarked vehicles. At the time, they wondered if the officers were part of a new enforcement push, but never found out.
