National shutdown shuts down America as millions protest ICE killings of two citizens

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.