Minnesota Businesses Shut Their Doors Friday in Protest of Federal Immigration Enforcement

A growing number of businesses across Minnesota planned to close on Friday as part of a protest against the surge in federal immigration enforcement in the state. The action, called "ICE Out of Minnesota: Day of Truth and Freedom," was organized by labor unions, community activists and faith leaders.

Organizers asked residents to stay away from school, work and shopping for the day to show opposition to the continued presence of immigration agents in the Twin Cities and elsewhere in Minnesota. A statement on the event's website called for suspending "the normal order of business" to demand an immediate end to ICE actions, accountability for federal agents who have caused loss of life and abuse to residents, and intervention by Congress.

Among the participants were Caffetto, a coffee shop, and the neighboring ice cream shop Bebe Zito in Minneapolis's Lowry Hill East neighborhood. Jeremy, a Bebe Zito manager who asked that his last name be withheld, said the enforcement had harmed many people, including small businesses, and that the shops wanted to stand in solidarity with their neighbors.

Unions also urged a general strike, encouraging members to skip work if doing so would not breach their contracts. Mark Froemke, president of the Red River Valley AFL-CIO and the West Area Labor Council in northwest Minnesota, said those who must work could still take part by avoiding grocery shopping, restaurants or movies. "You can still be with us spiritually," he said.

Not everyone is convinced the approach makes sense. Adam Platt, editor of Twin Cities Business magazine, wrote that the businesses closing are mostly retailers and restaurants, which are already among those hardest hit by ICE operations. He said the biggest downside is that some closing businesses employ immigrant workers who will go without a day's pay. Platt noted that restaurants, theaters and music venues in downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul were already seeing slower business in January, and that owners face a choice between losing income on one of their busiest days or being criticized as disloyal to the cause.

Some businesses chose a middle path. Dog Days, a pet daycare and boarding business in St. Paul, stayed open so staff would not lose pay, and owner Wendy Harter said in an email to customers that all of Friday's profits would go to The Bond Between, a nonprofit that provides pet food and supplies to families in need. Cafe Steam, a Rochester coffee shop chain, planned to close but pay employees for their scheduled hours. Owner William Forsman said he did not want staff to feel the rug had been pulled out from under them.

Participation extended beyond the Twin Cities. Anna Smith, owner of Garden Party Books in Rochester, said many immigrant neighbors who own businesses cannot come to work because they are afraid, and that continuing business as usual would feel wrong. In Mankato, Natasha Frost of the Wooden Spoon bakery and catering business said customers had told her they were afraid to go out, and that closing was a way to stand with immigrant, Indigenous, Black and other neighbors of color.

Reaction to the closures has been mixed. Annie Meyer, co-owner of Arroy, a Thai and Filipino restaurant in downtown St. Cloud, said regular customers have been supportive of its decision to close Friday and reopen Saturday, though she acknowledged some loud pushback. She said the restaurant's staff share the view and that it was not concerned about losing customers who object.