ICE agents have made themselves very unpopular with many people. Their actions of detaining individuals indiscriminately, regardless of whether they were actually undocumented, have made them enemies of numerous Americans. Of course, reality is not a video game, and you cannot simply attack those you see as villains with violence. However, people have found other ways to push back. Aside from protesting, some community members have developed creative strategies to make themselves a nuisance near the hotels where ICE agents stay. One striking example occurred in Eagan, Minnesota, where groups gathered outside the Hampton Inn where ICE agents were staying for the night.
In videos recorded at the scene, protesters brought musical instruments and played them energetically. One man was seen drumming on a full drum kit, while another wore a frog suit while playing an accordion. The creativity of the Eagan protesters was evident, and their energy clearly aimed to disrupt the comfort of the ICE agents.
Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, law enforcement officers were also present, appearing to side more with the ICE agents than the citizens. Rows of police in full riot gear stood outside the hotel, as if preparing to confront dangerous criminals rather than nonviolent protesters with musical instruments. In one scene, a woman could be seen rallying the group, encouraging them to continue their actions and telling them they had more courage than figures like Elon Musk or Donald Trump.
Online, many people applauded the Eagan community members for standing up against ICE agents staying in their town. The concept of keeping the agents awake with music was both admired and found humorous. “Drum kit is the chef’s kiss here. Thank you to all who are doing this completely American and patriotic thing! You’re the true heroes in our new revolution,” one user wrote. Another added, “As they should. People who kidnap, beat pregnant women, steal cars, leave children and animals unattended should never know peace.”
Some online commenters noted that the noise would likely disturb other hotel guests, but others said they would immediately request a refund if they ever stayed at the same hotel as ICE agents. Many criticized the police presence, describing it as disturbing and unnecessary. “Wasting money protecting the brown shirts. Meanwhile, the resistance is actually nonviolent, so other than protesting, as is their right, they are not a threat. This was all optics and waste,” one user commented.
