January 30, 2026
When federal agents killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis, activists organized the largest nationwide economic disruption since the 1940s—targeting congressional budget votes to defund ICE.
On Jan. 30, 2026, organizers called for a National Shutdown asking Americans to skip work, school, and shopping to protest ICE enforcement. Events took place in 47 states plus Washington, D.C., with over 300 locations hosting protests at federal buildings, courthouses, universities, and city halls.
The movement responded to two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis. ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot 37-year-old Renee Good on Jan. 7, 2026. Border Patrol agents shot 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti on Jan. 24, 2026, while he was filming law enforcement. Video analysis by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN contradicted federal claims about both shootings.
A Jan. 23 general strike in Minnesota drew an estimated 50,000 people to downtown Minneapolis despite temperatures reaching negative-20 degrees Fahrenheit. Over 700 businesses closed in solidarity. The Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, representing over 175 unions and 80,000 workers, endorsed the action.
Over 500 organizations endorsed the National Shutdown, including student groups, immigrant rights organizations, faith-based coalitions, CAIR, the North Carolina Poor People's Campaign, LA Tenants Union, and CodePink. Four University of Minnesota student groups originated the coalition.
Actors Pedro Pascal, Hannah Einbinder, Jamie Lee Curtis, Mark Ruffalo, Billie Eilish, and Edward Norton promoted the strike on social media. Pascal posted: 'Truth is a line of demarcation between a democratic government and authoritarian regime.' Hannah Einbinder wrote: 'Withholding our labor and capital is our most effective leverage.'
Operation Metro Surge deployed up to 3,000 federal agents to Minnesota, including 2,000 ICE personnel and hundreds of Border Patrol agents. DHS called it 'the largest immigration enforcement operation ever carried out.' DHS claimed over 3,000 arrests since the operation began.
Judge Patrick Schiltz, Minnesota's chief U.S. District Judge (appointed by George W. Bush), found that ICE violated at least 96 court orders in 74 cases since Jan. 1, 2026. He wrote: 'ICE has likely violated more court orders in Jan. 2026 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence.'
California Attorney General Rob Bonta led a coalition of 20 state attorneys general in filing an amicus brief supporting Minnesota's lawsuit against DHS. The brief argued Operation Metro Surge threatens sovereign powers the Constitution reserves for states. Businesses in the Twin Cities reported 50% to 80% revenue losses, and over 100 Minneapolis public schools temporarily closed, affecting 30,000 children.
Organizers
Victim, 37-year-old Minneapolis resident
Victim, 37-year-old ICU nurse at Minneapolis VA hospital
DHS Secretary
Chief U.S. District Judge, Minnesota
Actor (The Last of Us, The Mandalorian)
civic action
Tell your representatives how to vote on ICE funding in the upcoming appropriations bill
The National Shutdown specifically targeted upcoming congressional budget votes. Tell your representatives how you want them to vote on ICE funding in the next appropriations bill. The Jan. 30 government shutdown deadline made this leverage point particularly powerful.
learning more
Research Operation Metro Surge court rulings
Judge Patrick Schiltz documented 96 court order violations by ICE in Jan. 2026 alone. Court documents reveal how federal agencies operated during the Minnesota deployment and the legal challenges states can bring against federal overreach.
understanding
Track state attorney general actions
A coalition of 20 state attorneys general filed an amicus brief supporting Minnesota's lawsuit against DHS. Monitor your state attorney general's position on federal immigration enforcement and how states can use legal tools to check federal overreach.
understanding
Compare historical general strike tactics
The 2026 Minnesota strike was the first action of its scale since 1946. Compare to the 1919 Seattle general strike and 1946 Oakland strike to understand how economic disruption functions as political protest—and why organizers avoided formal union backing to work around the Taft-Hartley Act.