Protesters gather in front of the Bishop Henry Whipple federal building at Fort Snelling on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, expressing opposition to the presence of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)
Hundreds of people gathered outside the Whipple federal building at Fort Snelling on Friday to protest the presence of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who is leading the Trump administration’s efforts to detain and deport millions of immigrants.
Noem held a press conference to tout the administration’s arrests of immigrants who have committed crimes. He spoke behind a table littered with seized firearms and bags of marijuana, methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Many protesters feared that Noem’s presence would mark the beginning of a large-scale immigration enforcement effort like the one launched in Chicago last month.
But Noem’s appearance focused on celebrating arrests made by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s St. Paul field office.
“I’m here today to ask everyone in Minnesota, everyone in the Midwest and across our country, to support your law enforcement officers, to support them and help protect them as they go out and do their jobs,” Noem said.
Dozens of clergy attended the protest and led protesters with songs such as “This Little Light of Mine” and “We Shall Not Be Moved.”
Craig Loya, bishop of the Episcopal Church of Minnesota, preached a message of inclusion.
“As long as I have breath, I will continue to preach and proclaim that diversity makes us stronger and that there is no clearer moral imperative than supporting the immigrant and the stranger, because that is how God has embraced each of us,” Loya said.
Protesters marched to the glass doors of the Whipple Building, many holding signs and shouting anti-ICE slogans.
“No more nice Minnesota. We don’t want your fascist ICE,” protesters chanted.
The chants did not reach the windowless room of the Whipple Building where Noem spoke.
Craig Loya, bishop of the Episcopal Church of Minnesota, spoke at a protest in front of the Whipple Federal Building at Fort Snelling on Oct. 24, 2025. (Photo by Michelle Griffith/Minnesota Reformer)
Asked whether President Donald Trump would deploy the National Guard or other federal law enforcement to the Twin Cities, Noem said “it’s up to the president.”
But thousands of newly trained ICE officers are expected to join field offices in the coming weeks, including in St. Paul, funded by funds approved in the One Big Beautiful Bill signed in July, Noem said.
Under Noem, DHS has bucked precedent by requesting large amounts of personal data from states and other federal agencies assist in deportation efforts; arrest people in courts; send immigrants to countries with which they have no ties and in some cases Known for human rights abuses; and ignoring court orders.
Immigration agents Roofing crew arrested in St. Paul on October 3. The officers arrived in unmarked vehicles and refused to show identification, according to advocates. Some wore masks.
When asked about the incident, Noem said, “Our officers always follow the law, regulation and protocol exactly for every operation they participate in, so they always identify themselves and make sure people know who they are.”
A handful of Minnesota Democratic lawmakers also attended the protest, including DFL state Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura, who said she was at the protest to send a message to Noem that she and ICE were not welcome in Minnesota.
“We know a lot about what they do; the issue is simply fear,” Sencer-Mura said. “Always trying to combat that with love and community is a good way to just show up.”