From War Zones to Minneapolis, 'Civilian Self-Protection' Proves Its Value

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump’s “border czar,” Tom Homan, said that Operation Metro Surge, the administration’s controversial mass deportation scheme in Minneapolis, would draw down from its peak of 3,000 officers in the city to a “normal footprint” of 150 or so. This followed an earlier reduction in the force after weeks of concerted pushback by residents against a mission marked by violence and allegations of criminal behavior, including federal security forces’ killing of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, who were involved in trying to safeguard vulnerable community members.

The civic actions in Minneapolis went well beyond protest, with a shadow network of citizens engaged in practical efforts to protect their neighbors from heavily armed personnel from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection agencies. Some citizens were literal whistle-blowers, using mass produced and distributed whistles to alert vulnerable community members of immigration agents’ presence. Many also bore witness via video recordings and created sensational, media-friendly spectacles for others to observe and follow.

Some efforts protected community members by conducting civilian business, but not quite as usual: The Minneapolis Public Schools, for instance, offered an optional online learning opportunity for families who needed it due to fears of leaving their homes. Some residents simply stood by in solidarity and support: As journalist Aaron Rupar reported on Bluesky, a Somali man he spoke with said “his mosque last night was surrounded by neighbors ready to protect them against ICE if needed.”