Former Vikings captain blames liberals for Minneapolis ICE unrest
A city on edge after deadly enforcement action
Tensions flared in Minneapolis over the weekend following a fatal shooting during a federal immigration operation, setting off protests and confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement.
According to Fox News Digital, the incident occurred during an operation involving Border Patrol agents. In the hours that followed, crowds gathered near the scene to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity, prompting authorities to declare the situation unstable.
Brewer enters the political fight
Jack Brewer, a former Minnesota Vikings captain and University of Minnesota football player, publicly weighed in on the unrest, directing his criticism at Minnesota’s Democratic leadership.
In comments reported by Fox News Digital, Brewer argued that resistance to ICE enforcement is driven by political calculation rather than public safety concerns.
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“We’re deporting their voters. That’s part of what’s happening and it’s blowing up their whole plan,” Brewer said.
Criticism of leadership and culture
Brewer accused city officials of tolerating disorder and failing to defend shared civic values.
“You can’t allow people to come into your country who don’t carry the same morals and values that you do,” Brewer said, according to Fox News Digital. He added that Minneapolis leaders were protecting violent actors instead of confronting lawlessness.
Brewer also called for what he described as a city wide behavioral health assessment, saying public behavior and decision making had deteriorated amid repeated clashes with police.
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Calls for federal intervention
Brewer urged stronger federal action, including the deployment of the National Guard and the use of curfews to restore order.
“I hope President Trump sends in the National Guard,” Brewer said, according to Fox News Digital. “We need real consequences for attacking law enforcement.”
His remarks mark a sharp departure from earlier years. In 2018, Brewer received a ceremonial key to the city from Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, whom he now criticizes for what he describes as far left governance.
What authorities say happened
The Department of Homeland Security said the shooting involved 37 year old Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a Minneapolis resident and ICU nurse, during an enforcement operation targeting Jose Huerta Chuma, an undocumented immigrant with a prior criminal record.
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According to DHS, Pretti was armed with a 9 mm handgun and resisted agents when they attempted to disarm him. Medical personnel provided emergency care, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
DHS said that later the same day, approximately 200 demonstrators arrived and began obstructing officers, with some physically confronting law enforcement personnel.
Law enforcement response in Minneapolis
The Minneapolis Police Department declared an unlawful assembly and issued an emergency recall of all sworn officers. Police Chief Brian O’Hara urged the public to remain calm while calling for accountability and professionalism from federal agencies.
“Our demand today is for those federal agencies that are operating in our city to do so with the same discipline, humanity and integrity that effective law enforcement in this country demands,” O’Hara said, according to Fox News Digital.
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The Minnesota State Patrol, along with Hennepin County and Ramsey County sheriff’s offices, assisted local police. Fire crews also responded to small fires reported near the protest area.
Immigration enforcement as a recurring flashpoint
The latest unrest follows months of heightened tension surrounding immigration enforcement in Minnesota. According to Fox News Digital, demonstrations have intensified since the January 7 killing of Renee Nicole Good during a separate ICE related incident, which sparked protests across the country.
Brewer’s comments now add another high profile voice to an already polarized debate, as Minneapolis once again becomes a focal point in national arguments over immigration policy, policing, and political leadership.
Sources: Fox News Digital, Department of Homeland Security, Minneapolis Police Department
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