❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Minnesota National Guard handed out coffee and donuts to anti-ICE protesters in St. Paul.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Minnesota National Guard, anti-ICE protesters, and federal officials.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Sunday, January 26, 2026, in St. Paul, Minnesota.
đź’¬KEY QUOTE: The National Guard said the handouts were a “demonstration of safety and security.”
🎯IMPACT: The interaction occurred amid rising tensions between activists, state officials, and federal agencies in Minnesota over immigration enforcement.
Members of the Minnesota National Guard were observed on Sunday in St. Paul distributing coffee and donuts to agitators protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. Guardsmen wearing yellow reflective vests handed out the refreshments from the rear of a vehicle positioned near the protest.
A member of the Guard described the action as a “demonstration of safety and security.” The appearance of the troops followed earlier statements from the Minnesota National Guard indicating that personnel deployed in the Twin Cities would wear reflective vests to clearly distinguish themselves from federal law enforcement.
The Guard’s presence came one day after a Border Patrol agent fatally shot Alex J. Pretti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident, during a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operation.
Minnesota National Guard was asked why they’re handing out coffee, donuts, and hot chocolate to protesters.
Answer: “It’s a demonstration of safety and security. We’re here to help.”
That’s how you de-escalate.
Not masks. Not threats. Not bullets. pic.twitter.com/eV303c14xJ— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) January 26, 2026
Minnesota has become a focal point in the national debate over immigration enforcement. Recent operations in the state have led to the arrest of migrants with serious criminal records, including convictions for homicide, child sexual abuse, and drug trafficking.
Reports have surfaced alleging that elected Democratic officials and activist groups coordinated efforts to monitor and disrupt federal immigration actions, including through encrypted messaging platforms. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel has confirmed that investigations into whether this activity broke the law are underway.
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