Minneapolis Woman Detained as ICE Surveillance Intensifies

On December 9, 2025, a Minneapolis woman named Sue Tincher was detained by federal agents during an immigration enforcement operation near her home in North Minneapolis. Her experience has drawn attention to the intensifying surveillance and enforcement actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the region.

Incident Overview

Tincher, 55, had recently joined a neighborhood Signal group focused on monitoring immigration activities. She received a notification about ICE agents conducting an operation on Oliver Avenue N., prompting her to observe the situation. Upon her arrival, she was taken into custody for allegedly failing to comply with an officer’s order to back away.

Duration of Detention

Tincher spent over five hours in custody, during which she encountered concerns for other detainees who lacked communication with their families. Despite her arrest, she expressed a sense of purpose regarding the incident. “I felt, ‘Yeah, I can do this for the cause,’” she stated.

Arrests Linked to ICE Enforcement

Hours after Tincher’s detention, ICE arrested three Somali U.S. citizens in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. According to the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Minnesota chapter, these individuals reported being targeted solely based on their ethnicity. One of the detainees, identified as Mubashir, attended a news conference highlighting that he had identified himself as a U.S. citizen to the agents but was ignored.

Community Response

• Governor Tim Walz expressed concerns over the arrests in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
• Walz urged a review of the circumstances surrounding the arrests, emphasizing that unlawful practices by federal agents are unacceptable in Minnesota.
• Erika Zurawski, co-founder of the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee, noted the importance of bystanders documenting ICE actions and providing legal support.

Public Support and Future Actions

Tincher’s husband, Jim, attempted to secure help from elected officials as he learned about his wife’s arrest. He expressed disbelief at the manner of her detention, stating there was “no need to slam her to the ground.” Following multiple calls to lawmakers, two immigration attorneys assisted in her release from the Bishop Henry Whipple Building.

The Tinchers have indicated a commitment to continue their activism against ICE operations, motivated by their recent experience. “It will motivate us to show up at future ICE raids as bystanders,” Sue Tincher declared.

This incident raises critical questions about immigration enforcement practices and the targeting of U.S. citizens, as communities across the Twin Cities unite in response. The events serve as a poignant reminder of the ongoing tensions surrounding federal immigration policies and community safety.