Skip to Content
Opinion

Open Thread: Winter Is Coming. Are We Ready for ICE?

As we do every Friday, we're turning Racket over to you, the readers.

The Bishop Whipple Building

|Wikimedia Commons

These Open Threads are usually just a bit of Friday fun, a chance to yak about some nonsense, get to know one another, and blow off steam.

But the world being what it is this days, sometimes we've got to get serious around here, even on Fridays. And this is one of those times.

As you may have heard, Kristi Noem, who heads up a federal department that should never have been created, is coming to town today to “discuss ICE operations and update on the Trump Administration’s immigration enforcement operations in the Twin Cities.”

It's not confirmed, but immigrants' rights groups plan to protest at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Fort Snelling, where they believe Noem will speak. We can expect a lot of juked stats about crime and fraud, as well as ghoulish half-truths and outright lies about our neighbors.

But can we expect threats of commandeering the Minnesota National Guard, or of bringing in guard members from other states? Will we see increased and more visible ICE operations in the Twin Cities? In short, are we the next Portland/L.A./Chicago?

Am I panicking here? I'm trying not to. But I do want know, do you have any concrete plans of what you'll do if there's a federal invasion of Minneapolis? And also, in such an instance, what sort of reporting/information/analysis do you want from us here at Racket?

As always, feel free to ignore this prompt and talk about whatever you want. This is your Open Thread, after all.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Racket

Anyone in the Mood for a Rent Strike?

Plus remembering the Hortmans as the House returns, hero dogs doing important work, and how you can help Midtown Global Market in today's Flyover news roundup.

What Can I Say? It’s Your Complete Concert Calendar: Feb. 17-23

Pretty much all the music you can catch in the Twin Cities this week.

February 17, 2026

I Waited 11 Years (and Then a Few Hours) to Visit the Apostle Islands Ice Caves

Climate change has shrunk ice coverage on Lake Superior, making ice-cave access anomalous. If you have the chance, you should go.

February 17, 2026

ICE Preys on Helpful Neighbors

Plus John Oliver on MN, One Minute Tours guy takes off, and helping Haven Watch in today's Flyover news roundup.

February 16, 2026
See all posts