It looks like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minnesota have been told to steer clear of protesters. As per internal guidance reviewed by Reuters ICE officers in Minnesota were directed on Wednesday to avoid engaging with “agitators” as they carry out President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
The new guidance, offering the most detailed look so far at how operations would change after two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens protesting in Minneapolis, also orders U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers only to target immigrants who have criminal charges or convictions.
“DO NOT COMMUNICATE OR ENGAGE WITH AGITATORS,” said an email disseminated by a top ICE official. “It serves no purpose other than inflaming the situation. No one is going to convince the other. The only communication should be the officers issuing commands.”
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The operational shift comes after Trump said this week that he aimed to “de-escalate” tension in Minneapolis and St. Paul after federal immigration officers killed two U.S. citizens there this month and in both cases, Trump officials swiftly portrayed the deceased as aggressors, an assertion undercut by video evidence.
The effectiveness of the new approach will depend heavily on how consistently it is implemented on the ground and how officers interpret the limits of engagement during rapidly evolving situations. There is also ongoing debate about whether restricting enforcement to individuals with alleged criminal ties will meaningfully reduce tensions or simply reframe them. Civil rights advocates have questioned whether internal guidance alone is sufficient to address deeper concerns around accountability and use of force.
Under the new guidance outlined in the email, ICE officers will receive megaphones so that they can issue commands to the public and “need to verbalize every step of the arrest process.”
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The revised enforcement posture in Minnesota illustrates how federal agencies may adapt tactics under intense public scrutiny and political pressure. While the guidance signals an intent to reduce confrontation and narrow enforcement priorities, its long-term impact remains uncertain, particularly as legal challenges, public demonstrations, and policy debates continue to unfold. It is not yet clear whether these changes represent a temporary operational pause or a broader shift in federal immigration strategy nationwide.
The updated guidance comes from Marcos Charles, the top official in ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division, according to the email. It said officers could only target immigration offenders who had a previous criminal history.
“We are moving to targeted enforcement of aliens with a criminal history,” it read. “This includes arrests, not just convictions. ALL TARGETS MUST HAVE A CRIMINAL NEXUS.”