(NewsNation) — Sheriff’s deputies in Minneapolis intervened Saturday evening in an attempt to prevent protesters from clashing with federal immigration authorities.
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office sent vehicles to prevent demonstrators from blocking the movement of federal agents at the Whipple Federal Building, which has served as a base for ICE during the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota.
For days, protesters have demonstrated at the site and other locations, but tensions have remained especially high since an ICE officer fatally shot driver Renee Good on Jan. 7. The Minnesota National Guard remained on standby.
“There’s a part of me that wasn’t going to come out today,” said Minnesota resident Annie Divinski, who faulted state and local leaders for not doing enough to discourage the feds. “I can’t just sit at home.”
The anti-ICE contingent opposes what they consider to be the Trump administration’s broad sweeps of migrants, including law-abiding individuals. The Department of Homeland Security says federal authorities remain focused on the so-called “worst of the worst” — undocumented migrants with criminal histories who are endangering public safety.
Before sheriff’s police arrived, NewsNation observed several people being arrested outside the Whipple Building. Federal authorities, who are now under a court injunction restricting their response to peaceful protesters, used pepper spray at one point.
Right-wing activists chased off, organizer injured
Also Saturday, hundreds of anti-ICE protesters chased off a small group of far-right activists who had vowed to march on a Minneapolis neighborhood where many immigrants live.
The anti-ICE crowd forced about 10 of the right-wing demonstrators against the outside of a building. Some in the crowd tossed water balloons that soaked members of the outnumbered group as temperatures hit -4 degrees Fahrenheit with the wind chill.
Police maintained their distance as the dueling protests played out.
Jake Lang, who organized what The Associated Press said was an anti-Islam and pro-ICE demonstration, appeared to be injured as he left the scene, with bruises and scrapes on his head. He said via social media beforehand that he intended to “burn a Quran” on the steps of City Hall, but it was not clear if he carried out that plan.
Lang was previously charged with assaulting an officer with a baseball bat, civil disorder and other crimes before receiving clemency as part of President Donald Trump’s sweeping act of clemency for Jan. 6 defendants last year. Lang recently announced that he is running for U.S. Senate in Florida.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.