Minnesota agitators directing traffic criticized by retired NYPD detective

Agitators directing visitors and obstructing legislation enforcement actions in Minnesota are drawing sharp criticism from a former police official, who warns that the scenes point out a harmful normalization of obstruction that threatens public security and the rule of legislation.

Retired NYPD Detective and Deputy Professor Mike Alcazar advised Fox Information Digital that the conduct would by no means have been tolerated throughout his profession, calling the dearth of intervention a marked departure from long-standing enforcement requirements.

‘It could have been closed instantly. That may by no means have occurred,” Alcazar mentioned.

Drawing on a long time of expertise policing large-scale demonstrations in New York Metropolis, Alcazar mentioned protesters have traditionally been allowed to train their First Modification rights, however solely inside clearly enforced boundaries supposed to stop dysfunction and violence.

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Residents barricade the 3300 block of Portland Avenue in Minneapolis on Thursday, January 8, 2026, the place Renee Nicole Good was shot by an ICE agent the day earlier than. (Derek Shook for Fox Information Digital)

He mentioned civilians weren’t allowed to take over roads, direct visitors or block pedestrian entry, and that officers routinely used limitations, separation ways and a visual uniformed presence to take care of management.

“You’ll be able to’t take over a lane. That is not a part of your proper to protest,” Alcazar mentioned. “That is the place we draw the road.”

Alcazar mentioned these strains now seem more and more blurred, pushing demonstrations into obstruction. When enforcement requirements aren’t clearly adhered to, he says, agitators make the most of the absence of penalties: surrounding officers, escalating confrontations and introducing objects that can be utilized as weapons, reminiscent of wood poles.

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A bystander holds an indication that reads “Disgrace” as legislation enforcement officers work the scene following a taking pictures by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on Wednesday. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Pictures)

In keeping with Alcazar, dangers enhance when federal brokers function with out seen help from native legislation enforcement. Immigration enforcement operations, he mentioned, aren’t designed to manage hostile civilian crowds, however as an alternative depend on native departments to safe scenes and stop interference.

“ICE brokers are educated for enforcement operations – not crowd management,” Alcazar mentioned. “When native police withdraw, you allow federal brokers uncovered.”

These dangers have been seen on the bottom. Fox Information correspondent Matt Finn captured a tense second in downtown Minneapolis when a resident used a car to briefly cease Border Patrol brokers throughout an energetic enforcement operation, forcing officers to order the motive force to maneuver. Finn reported that Border Patrol models usually keep away from staying in a single location for prolonged intervals of time as a result of troublemakers usually attempt to encompass or impede them, making even brief delays a safety danger.

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Tensions escalated in Minneapolis following a deadly taking pictures Wednesday throughout a federal immigration enforcement operation by which 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent.

Federal officers mentioned Good tried to drive her car towards officers in the course of the encounter, a declare disputed by members of the family and a few native leaders. The taking pictures led agitators to take to the streets and elevated scrutiny of federal enforcement actions within the metropolis, contributing to repeated clashes between protesters and federal brokers.

Nevertheless, metropolis officers mentioned current demonstrations have remained largely peaceable and steps are being taken to make sure public security.

A spokesperson for the Minneapolis Police Division mentioned lawful gatherings had been peaceable and much like different small and large-scale demonstrations that happen repeatedly within the metropolis. Police emphasised that protecting streets clear is vital to defending lives, property and first responders.

Metropolis Councilman Jason Chavez addresses onlookers after a taking pictures by an ICE agent on January 7, 2026 in Minneapolis. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Pictures)

The town mentioned it was eradicating limitations blocking streets close to the taking pictures scene Wednesday to make sure emergency entry.

Melanie Rucker, interim chief of the Minneapolis Hearth Division, warned that blocked streets might delay emergency response and endanger lives.

“Security should come first – each second issues when lives are at stake,” Rucker mentioned, noting that crews not too long ago responded to a three-alarm hearth just some blocks away. “When streets are blocked, it slows down our response and places each residents and emergency responders in danger.”

Metropolis officers mentioned residents have expressed considerations about entry to the neighborhood, with a number of 311 calls requesting the barrier’s elimination. Whereas memorials created by neighborhood members will stay intact, town mentioned surrounding streets should stay clear to make sure emergency entry.

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Residents barricade the 3300 block of Portland Avenue in Minneapolis, Thursday, January 8, 2026. Contained in the block, Renee Nicole Good was shot by an ICE agent. (Derek Shook for Fox Information Digital)

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has sharply criticized the presence and actions of federal immigration brokers after the taking pictures, ordering ICE to “depart Minneapolis” and dismissing the Division of Homeland Safety’s account of the incident. Frey mentioned town doesn’t need federal brokers there, arguing that their presence has contributed to chaos and undermined public security.

Further considerations have been raised by Adam Swart, CEO of Crowds on Demand, who advised Fox Information Digital that his firm declined to take part in protests in Minneapolis as many turned to unlawful actions, together with blocking streets and obstructing federal legislation enforcement.

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Fox Information host Laura Ingraham speaks to an agitator throughout a rally in Minneapolis. The agitator claimed that she is “now” being paid to attend the demonstration. (The Ingraham Nook)

Swart mentioned mixing peaceable protesters with people engaged in obstruction poses critical security dangers as a result of officers can’t simply distinguish between authorized protesters and agitators.

“If you block streets, conflict with legislation enforcement and impede federal brokers, these are unlawful protests,” Swart mentioned. “Regulation enforcement can’t simply distinguish between peaceable protesters and folks inflicting these obstacles.”

Swart rejected claims that blocking roads or limiting legislation enforcement actions constitutes “nonviolent resistance,” warning that stopping federal brokers from transferring freely places officers, protesters and first responders at risk.

He added that such ways are sometimes counterproductive as a result of efforts to hinder ICE operations usually tend to result in an elevated federal presence moderately than deterring enforcement.

Mark Ross, president of the St. Paul Police Federation, additionally weighed in, sharply criticizing native political management and the impression of so-called segregation ordinances on public security.

“It is a recipe for catastrophe,” Michael Alcazar mentioned of abandoning federal brokers amid dysfunction. “That is how civilians get harm, officers get harm and conditions get out of hand.” (Stephen Maturen/Getty Pictures)

Ross mentioned metropolis leaders have conflated routine crowd help with “working with ICE,” regardless of native police departments having no position in federal immigration enforcement.

“So far as I am involved, these mayors and municipalities have some blood on their arms and so they bear some accountability,” Ross mentioned.

Ross argued that permitting native police to offer fundamental crowd management — moderately than limiting coordination — might have decreased dangers throughout current confrontations. He mentioned police help centered solely on stopping the gang from interfering with federal officers might have prevented a harmful escalation.

Ross added that his division has repeatedly supplied help restricted to crowd administration, and never deportations or federal enforcement duties, to make sure the protection of each officers and protesters.

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Alcazar mentioned the unrest underlines the hazard of leaving federal brokers to function amid dysfunction with out help from native legislation enforcement, warning that the absence of a visual police presence will increase the danger of escalation and harm to each officers and civilians.

“It is a recipe for catastrophe,” he mentioned. “That is how civilians get harm, officers get harm and conditions get out of hand.”

Alcazar warned that leaving obstruction unchecked sends a harmful message that enforcement requirements now not apply.

“As soon as residents begin controlling the streets, the police lose management of the streets,” Alcazar mentioned. “If folks do not know the place the boundaries are, they’ll take benefit.”

Matt Finn and Louis Casiano of Fox Information contributed to this report.

Stepheny Value covers crime together with lacking individuals, murders and migrant crime. Ship story tricks to stepheny.worth@fox.com.