January 8 began as an ordinary day at the Target store in Richfield, Minnesota. By afternoon, federal agents had arrived at the parking lot and detained two employees—both U.S. citizens—in an incident that has since ignited legal battles, community protests, and questions about constitutional protections.
Jonathan Aguilar Garcia, 17, was escorted toward a federal vehicle while repeatedly shouting, “I’m literally a U.S. citizen!”. Garcia had his passport in his pocket, but Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents never asked to see it. Alongside him, coworker Christian Miranda Romano faced the same treatment. Both teenagers were forced to the ground, handcuffed, and placed in an unmarked SUV. Hours later, Garcia was released in a Walmart parking lot, injured.
Operation Metro Surge Descends on Minnesota
The Richfield arrests were not isolated. They occurred during Operation Metro Surge, what federal officials have called the largest immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota history. Beginning in December 2025, the Department of Homeland Security deployed approximately 2,000 federal agents—from ICE, Border Patrol, and Customs—across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. By mid-January, that number had swelled to nearly 3,000 agents, more than the combined police forces of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Over two days in early January, federal agents arrested approximately 300 people across the Minneapolis area. DHS later reported over 2,500 arrests since the operation began. Agents conducted operations in parking lots and public spaces without judicial warrants.
Minnesota State Representative Michael Howard, who represents Richfield, met with both detained teenagers on January 10 and personally verified their citizenship. Family members of Christian Miranda Romano had brought his birth certificate and Social Security card to the Fort Snelling detention center, where agents reportedly dismissed the documents. According to social media posts from Romano’s family members, ICE agents dismissed their concerns about his citizenship status.
A Fatal Shooting One Day Earlier
The morning before the Richfield raid, Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, dropped her 6-year-old son at school and encountered ICE agents near her vehicle on January 7. Video footage shows a brief confrontation before ICE agent Jonathan Ross fired three shots, killing Good. The entire incident lasted approximately one second from the first shot to the last.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem claimed Good “weaponized her vehicle” and attempted to run over officers. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey watched the video footage and publicly disputed that account, stating: “Having seen the video myself, I want to tell everybody directly that is bullshit”. Video analysis by The New York Times and ABC News showed Good turning her steering wheel away from Ross just before he fired.
The shooting sparked immediate protests across Minnesota and nationwide, with over 1,000 demonstrations planned under the banner “ICE Out For Good”. By January 11, Minneapolis officials reported 30 arrests at weekend protests.
Corporate Silence and Community Demands
Target, headquartered in Minnesota, declined to comment despite multiple inquiries from local and national outlets. On the afternoon of January 8, Target’s chief human resources officer sent an internal email acknowledging the incident but provided no specific guidance on employee protections.
On Saturday, January 11, hundreds gathered outside the Richfield Target to demand corporate accountability. Community organization Isaiah and local leaders presented four demands: Target must require judicial warrants—signed by judges, not DHS officials—before allowing ICE onto company property; train all employees on Fourth Amendment rights; publicly oppose federal enforcement on its premises; and post signs in every store explaining worker protections.
Ben Whalen of Isaiah articulated community frustration: “Federal agents assaulted and abducted two workers going about their shift, ignoring the one who is proclaiming that he is a U.S. citizen and had his passport in his pocket”. As the protests continued, graffiti appeared on Target buildings expressing opposition to ICE enforcement.
The operation’s impact extended far beyond individual arrests. In Richfield Public Schools, where 30 percent of students are Latino, 35 percent of the district stayed home on January 8. Businesses on Lake Street and St. Paul’s East Side reported revenue drops between 50 and 100 percent—worse than during COVID-19, according to business owners.
Legal and Political Confrontation
On Monday, January 13, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a lawsuit against Secretary Noem and federal officials, joined by the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The lawsuit characterizes the operation as a “federal invasion” conducted with “militarized raids” and “warrantless arrests”.
During a press conference announcing the lawsuit, Ellison stated: “This is fundamentally a federal invasion of Minnesota and the Twin Cities, and it needs to end”. The complaint alleges that armed, masked federal agents have terrorized Twin Cities communities through unlawful stops, excessive force, and violations of constitutional rights.
Governor Tim Walz condemned the operation in televised remarks: “It’s a war that’s waged against Minnesota. They came here without any coordination with us, just for a show for the cameras”. President Trump responded on his platform, posting about “A DAY OF RECKONING AND RETRIBUTION” coming for Minnesota, without clarifying what that meant.
U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino told reporters the operation would continue “as long as it takes”. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin announced hundreds of additional federal agents would be deployed to Minnesota, bringing the total above 2,400.
The question that remains is whether Target—a company that has built its brand on being deeply rooted in Minnesota communities—will break its silence about what happened on its property. As federal enforcement continues and legal battles unfold, Minnesota residents are watching to see if corporate responsibility will match the scale of community concern that has emerged in response to Operation Metro Surge.
Sources
AP News, “Minneapolis duo details their ICE detention, including assault allegations” (January 13, 2026)
CBS News Minnesota, “Target workers detained by feds officers were U.S. citizens” (January 12, 2026)
Star Tribune, “Target employees federal arrest border patrol Renee Nicole Good shooting ICE crackdown Minneapolis” (January 12, 2026)
BBC News, “Who was Renee Nicole Good, the woman killed by ICE?” (January 8, 2026)
CNN, “Clashes Rise With Federal Agents in Minneapolis” (January 13, 2026)
PBS NewsHour, “2000 federal agents sent to Minneapolis area to carry out ‘largest immigration operation ever'” (January 6, 2026)