DHS says protesters harassed immigration agents during bathroom breaks in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: The Department of Homeland Security has accused protesters in Minnesota of harassing and obstructing federal immigration agents as they tried to take routine bathroom breaks during a targeted enforcement operation in the Twin Cities.

The allegations were shared Wednesday on X, where DHS said Border Patrol agents were repeatedly confronted by “hostile crowds” while stopping at gas stations to use restrooms. The department framed these encounters as part of a broader pattern of resistance surrounding federal immigration crackdowns in the area.

DHS alleges harassment and obstruction during bathroom stops

According to DHS, agents were followed from location to location, shouted at, blocked from leaving, and in some cases physically confronted.

“Today, Border Patrol agents who were in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area as part of a targeted enforcement operation were repeatedly harassed and blocked by hostile crowds while simply trying to take bathroom breaks,” the department wrote.

DHS said protesters escalated confrontations at multiple stops. Some agents were allegedly spat on, while at other locations, food was thrown at them. When an agent attempted to detain one individual, the crowd surrounded and tackled officers, forcing them to use crowd-control measures to exit safely.

This is not the first time DHS agents claimed they were denied restroom access. In October, agents traveling with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem were reportedly refused entry at a municipal building in Illinois.

Earlier this week, video circulated showing a gas station worker denying service to Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino and ICE agents in Minneapolis, telling them she did not care whether the refusal was legal.

Federal enforcement push sparks protests

The bathroom incidents come amid an expanded federal immigration operation in Minneapolis, which has drawn criticism from local officials and activists. DHS has been accused of asserting broad authority, including entering homes without judicial warrants.

The increased federal presence has led to daily protests and viral confrontations with residents. Tensions intensified after the fatal shooting of Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross earlier this month. Public anger surged further after ICE officers reportedly used a five-year-old boy to gain access to his father’s home during an arrest, a move condemned by immigrant advocates and lawmakers.

Videos and social media posts have shown protesters mocking agents, while some clips highlighted agents mishandling crowd-control equipment, further fueling public criticism. The ongoing confrontations underscore the challenges federal authorities face amid heightened public scrutiny and opposition in Minneapolis.