Fact Check: Is clip showing armed man outside a home in St Paul to protect neighbors from ICE real?

The tension between ICE officers and the residents of Minnesota has surged following the death of Renee Nicole Good
PUBLISHED JAN 19, 2026
A viral clip showed an armed man outside a home in St Paul protecting neighbors from ICE (Getty Images)
A viral clip showed an armed man outside a home in St Paul protecting neighbors from ICE (Getty Images)

ST PAUL, MINNESOTA: Tensions between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and the residents of Minnesota have surged in the last few weeks following the shooting of Renee Nicole Good, 37, in Minneapolis on January 7.

Recently, a clip went viral on social media showing a man standing armed outside a home in St Paul, Minnesota, to protect his neighbors from ICE agents. But is there any truth to this? Let us find out below.

Claim: Man stands armed outside a home in St Paul to protect his neighbors from ICE

An X user, @ScooterCasterNY, shared a clip of a man standing armed outside a home in St Paul to protect his neighbors from ICE. The user captioned the post, "'This is my neighborhood', man with a rifle stands outside a home in St Paul after multiple ICE sightings in the area."



The video was further shared by another X account with the caption, "Liberal man stands armed outside a home in St. Paul to protect his neighbors from ICE."



In the clip, the man can be seen holding an assault rifle while standing outside a home. The man says in the clip that it is his neighborhood and he is protecting his people.

Fact Check: Viral clip is authentic and not AI-generated

The viral clip is authentic and was not generated using artificial intelligence. The clip was originally shared by Freedom News TV, an independent news outlet that covers on-the-ground incidents.

The video aligns with broader reports of heightened ICE operations and community responses in the Twin Cities area recently, including protests, arrests, and viral videos of confrontations. 

An onlooker holds a sign that reads
An onlooker holds a sign that reads 'Shame' as members of law enforcement work the scene following a suspected shooting by an ICE agent during federal law enforcement operations on January 07, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Further analysis of the video frames shows natural movements, consistent environmental details (such as snow texture, shadows, and background elements), and no typical AI hallmarks, such as distorted faces, unnatural lighting, or frame inconsistencies.

Similar clips and descriptions have been shared across platforms, including other X posts, confirming it as part of ongoing coverage of ICE raids targeting undocumented individuals, some allegedly linked to serious crimes.

Minnesota anti-ICE protesters face hypothermia risk

Minnesota anti-ICE protesters are facing hypothermia risk as reports confirmed that extreme cold could be dangerous for anyone spending time outside in the Minneapolis area.

The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities warned that wind chills could 'fall into the range of 30 below zero to 40 below zero Saturday morning and Monday morning' in parts of Minnesota. 

Demonstrators protest outside of the Whipple federal building on January 15, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Protest have sparked up around the city following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an immigration enforcement agent during an incident in south Minneapolis on January 7. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Demonstrators protest outside of the Whipple federal building on January 15, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

At such low temperatures, frostbite can develop in just 15 minutes, National Weather Service meteorologist Brent Hewett told Newsweek. The NWS warned on X that 'Frigid cold returns by tomorrow night and will last for several days.'

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