STORY: :: Minneapolis, Minnesota

:: January 14, 2026

:: Hispanic businesses in Minneapolis are struggling as ICE operations there drive away workers and customers

:: Luis Reyes Rojas, Owner, Pineda Tacos

"They started targeting us just because of our skin color, and now, because of who we are, we have closed all the doors. And even the door that's supposed to be open, it's constantly being opened and closed so that they (ICE) can't get in."

"They're looking at us, what can we do? We're just a group of women and young men in my kitchen, with spoons and spatulas, serving food. Are we criminals? We're not criminals. Now, the real criminals are walking around in green uniforms and wearing federal badges because they're allowed to do whatever they want."

:: Miguel Sanchez, Flower shop owner

"We're not selling anything, almost nothing, maybe one or two bouquets a day, and we're usually much busier, right? And the situation here is very sad because people aren't going out; they're staying in their homes because they're afraid of ICE."

"With all the damage they've done to the people and all the damage they've done to the city of Minneapolis and the entire state of Minnesota, which is a very, very beautiful state, and we just want this to end. This is like a nightmare, I think, for many people who don't want to go through this, but we wish they would leave tomorrow."

"Things have gotten more difficult," Reyes Rojas said, describing plans to retreat to offices or basements in the case of agents appearing. "We have plan A, plan B and plan C because we don't know how much longer we can endure this." Reyes Rojas added that the enforcement began to keep criminals away, now, he's not so sure.                

Nearby, several storefronts along Lake Street and inside a Mexican market displayed similar "No ICE" signs. Many stalls were closed, and aisles sat empty.

Miguel Sanchez, who owns a flower shop inside the market, said sales had dropped sharply. "We're selling almost nothing," he said, adding that some businesses remain shut because employees are afraid to come to work. Buckets of unsold flowers sat in refrigerated coolers behind him.

Sanchez said the prolonged uncertainty has taken a toll. "We're scared and tired of being scared," he said. "It's been months, and we don't know how much longer we can endure this."