This week’s edition covers stories
from January 22nd to January 28th, 2026.
Today’s issue is 590 words, a 5-minute read
Hey folks, Isabella here.
On behalf of the NewPrensa team, we wanted to announce that beginning in February, we’ll be shifting from a weekly cadence to a monthly edition newsletter. This change will allow us to step back from the constant churn of updates and focus on deeper reporting, clearer context, and more intentional storytelling around the issues shaping our communities. More details (and more news) coming soon.
In the midst of the churn, Minneapolis responds
It is no news that Minneapolis has become a flashpoint in the national debate over federal immigration enforcement, a turbulent mix of political confrontation, legal challenges, community grief, and public health concerns.
The crisis intensified on Jan. 24, when 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a U.S. citizen and intensive care nurse, was shot and killed by federal immigration agents during an enforcement operation on Nicollet Avenue. Local officials and bystander video offered conflicting accounts of the incident: federal authorities reported that Pretti approached officers with a handgun and resisted disarmament, prompting defensive gunfire, while multiple videos and witness accounts suggested he may have merely been filming agents and attempting to assist others before being tackled and shot. Pretti’s death, the second fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by federal agents in the Twin Cities this month, prompted candlelight vigils, protests, and a temporary judicial order barring federal officials from destroying or altering evidence tied to the case.
On the political front, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar was sprayed with an unknown substance during a Minneapolis town hall shortly after criticizing federal immigration actions and calling for leadership changes at the Department of Homeland Security. A man approached her with a syringe and discharged the liquid before being quickly restrained and arrested; no serious injuries were reported, and Omar continued the event amid heightened scrutiny of threats against public officials.
That same immigration enforcement surge, part of a broader federal deployment to Minnesota, is now facing judicial pushback as a federal judge orderedthe acting head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to appear in court. The order from Chief U.S. District Judge Patrick J. Schiltz stems from multiple instances of noncompliance with court directives related to detainee hearings, prompting rare judicial action to compel agency leadership to justify its practices before a Minneapolis courtroom.
Public response has extended beyond protests. Last Friday, organizers coordinated a statewide economic strike, urging Minnesotans to withhold labor and spending to protest federal immigration actions. Organizers have since called for a broader, nationwide general strike this Friday, framing it as an escalation of pressure on federal authorities and a show of solidarity across states.
Communities have also responded through mutual aid and symbolic action. A South Minneapolis diner, Modern Times Cafe, shifted to a donation-based model, temporarily renaming itself “Post Modern Times” and offering free food as a response to the federal presence in the neighborhood. Meanwhile, health professionals and residents have raised concerns about the use of tear gas and other chemical irritants during enforcement actions and protests, citing uncertainty about the long-term health effects of repeated exposure.
For weeks now, Minnesotans have been organizing to respond to the impacts of intensified immigration enforcement — through protests, strikes, mutual aid, legal support, and advocacy — and that work continues to rely on public support. A growing hub of mutual aid funds, community groups, legal organizations, and resource directories has been compiled to help people plug in where they can.
To explore a non-exhaustive list of organizations and accounts to follow or support, visit standwithminnesota.com, where Minnesotans can find ways to support neighbors in crisis, contribute to mutual aid efforts, and stay informed about ongoing statewide and national organizing.
Stay informed, stay connected.
See you next week!
–
Isabella and the NewPrensa team
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Hi, friend: Isabella here!
I’m a Communications Specialist by day and wishing for the weekend by night!
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