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Minnesota Businesses Plan Closures to Protest Federal Immigration Enforcement
A growing number of businesses across Minnesota plan to close on Friday as part of an organized economic protest against increased federal immigration enforcement activity in the state, according to organizers and business owners.
Labor unions, community activists and faith leaders are coordinating the action, known as “ICE Out of Minnesota: Day of Truth and Freedom.” Organizers are encouraging residents to avoid work, school and shopping for the day to oppose the continued presence of federal immigration agents in the Twin Cities and other parts of Minnesota.
“It is time to suspend the normal order of business to demand immediate cessation of ICE actions in Minnesota, accountability for federal agents who have caused loss of life and abuse to Minnesota residents and call for Congress to immediately intervene,” organizers said in a statement posted on the event’s website.
Several Minneapolis businesses have announced they will participate, including the coffee shop Caffetto and the ice cream shop Bebe Zito, located next to each other in the Lowry Hill East neighborhood.
Jeremy, a manager at Bebe Zito who asked that his last name not be used, said the closure is intended to encourage broader participation.
“The occupation that is happening in Minneapolis has been damaging a lot of people, including small businesses. And, you know, we want to stand in solidarity with everyone around the neighborhood,” he said.
Labor groups are also urging workers to stay home if possible without violating employment contracts. Mark Froemke, president of the Red River Valley AFL-CIO and the West Area Labor Council in northwest Minnesota, said participation can take different forms.
“You can still be with us spiritually,” Froemke said. “There’s lots of ways that you can support this action.”
Some business leaders and observers have questioned the effectiveness of an economic shutdown. In a column published by Twin Cities Business magazine, editor Adam Platt wrote that many of the businesses closing are already under financial strain.
“The worst of the downsides is that there is a subset of businesses that are closing that employ immigrant workers, and those people will be without a wage for the day,” Platt said.
He added that restaurants and entertainment venues in downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul have already seen slower business in January, leaving owners with difficult choices.
Other businesses have opted to remain open while donating profits. Dog Days, a pet daycare and boarding facility in St. Paul, said it would donate all of Friday’s proceeds to The Bond Between, a nonprofit that provides pet supplies to families in need.
“This approach allows us to continue caring for dogs, supporting our staff and contributing meaningfully to the broader community all at the same time,” owner Wendy Harter wrote in an email to customers.
Participation extends beyond the Twin Cities. In Rochester, Garden Party Books owner Anna Smith said she will close her store on Friday.
“We’re saying we are not doing business as usual,” Smith said. “So many of our neighbors are immigrant neighbors who have businesses they can’t come to work right now because they’re scared.”
In Mankato, Natasha Frost, owner of the Wooden Spoon bakery and catering business, said customer concerns influenced her decision to close.
“We pretty quickly came to the conclusion that we would stand in solidarity with the neighbors who are immigrants, indigenous, Black and people of color,” Frost said.
In St. Cloud, Arroy, a Thai and Filipino restaurant, announced it would close Friday and reopen Saturday. Co-owner Annie Meyer said the response has been mixed.
“It’s just something that we personally stand for,” Meyer said.
Cafe Steam, a coffee shop chain in Rochester, said it will pay employees for scheduled hours despite closing. Owner William Forsman said the decision was made to protect workers’ income.
“They may be somewhat on the fence about losing hours that they were anticipating,” Forsman said.
