In a chilling account, two Minneapolis residents monitoring immigration enforcement during the latest federal crackdown have reported being detained for several hours under alarming conditions. Brandon Sigüenza and Patty O’Keefe claim they were held without charges, denied phone calls, and even coerced to divulge identities of protest organizers and undocumented immigrants.
According to these individuals, who are both U.S. citizens, the tactics observed in Minneapolis reflect the aggressive methods previously reported in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New Orleans. They describe immigration officers utilizing roving patrols, warrantless arrests, and physical intimidation, including spraying chemical irritants and vandalizing vehicles of protesters.
During their detention, they were placed in separate cells within a federal facility, witnessing other detainees in distress, reinforcing their claims of inhumane conditions. Sigüenza noted that an ICE officer even offered him money or legal protection in exchange for information about protest organizers and neighbors who may be undocumented, which he refused.
Following their release, the duo faced more hostility as they were subjected to tear gas while leaving the facility. Sigüenza expressed the surreal juxtaposition of their detention experience, stating, Hearing the visceral pain of the people in this center was awful, particularly when contrasted with laughter from agents at the facility.
Both O’Keefe and Sigüenza have shared their story widely on social media, highlighting serious concerns over the treatment of detainees in such settings. As federal authorities continue to justify their actions as necessary for immigration control, the pair believes that their experience aims to intimidate critics of harsh immigration practices.
