Police in Maple Grove, Minnesota, arrested several protesters. The arrests followed a demonstration outside a Marriott hotel. Authorities said the protest turned violent. They declared it an unlawful assembly. Police said it was “no longer considered peaceful.”
What Happened Outside the Hotel
On Monday, a group of demonstrators gathered outside the SpringHill Suites and Residence Inn by Marriott in Maple Grove. They believed that senior Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino was staying at the hotel. The protest began as a public demonstration. People held signs and chanted slogans to show their anger over recent immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota.
Police said the situation changed as time passed. Officers reported that some people in the crowd began throwing objects. They also began damaging property near the hotel. After that, authorities declared the gathering an unlawful assembly. This is a legal move. It allows police to order a crowd to leave when a situation becomes dangerous. Officers used loudspeakers to tell everyone to disperse.
Some protesters followed the order and left the area, but others refused. Police said those who stayed were arrested, although the exact number of arrests was not immediately released.
In a statement, the Maple Grove Police Department said it supports the right to peaceful protest but stressed that criminal behavior is not protected. Photos from the scene showed lines of officers facing demonstrators and multiple agencies working together to secure the area.
Why the Protest in Maple Grove Happened
The protest in Maple Grove did not happen on its own. It followed days of anger and public debate after a deadly incident in Minneapolis involving Border Patrol agents.
On Saturday, federal Border Patrol agents shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen and ICU nurse, while he was recording a federal immigration operation in Minneapolis. Reports say Pretti was trying to help a woman who had been knocked down by agents when officers sprayed him with an irritant, pushed him to the ground, and beat him before firing multiple shots that killed him.
The incident sparked immediate public outrage because many people questioned why agents killed a man who was filming police activity and trying to help someone. Tensions grew even more after Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino claimed Pretti had planned to “massacre” law enforcement, a statement later described as unsubstantiated. The White House said it did not support that description.
More controversy followed when Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called Pretti a “domestic terrorist” and adviser Stephen Miller labeled him a “would-be assassin.” The White House press secretary said the president had not used those terms.
Amid the backlash, President Donald Trump announced that Bovino and many of his agents would leave Minneapolis as part of a leadership reshuffle, with Border Czar Tom Homan expected to take charge. Reports also said Bovino’s social media access was removed. The shooting came just weeks after another ICE-related killing in the city, further raising tensions.
Police Response and Growing Tension
Because of these events, emotions have been running high in Minnesota. Many people feel angry, scared, or confused about what is happening with immigration enforcement and police actions.
The protest in Maple Grove showed how quickly a public demonstration can turn into a serious public safety issue. Police said they had to act once the situation became violent or destructive.
By calling in help from several state and county agencies, authorities showed they were preparing for the possibility of a larger disturbance. Their goal, they said, was to prevent injuries and protect nearby buildings and people.
The arrests outside the hotel are now part of a much bigger story about immigration enforcement, public trust in law enforcement, and the use of force. For many in Minnesota, the events of the past few weeks have been shocking and deeply upsetting.
For now, what is clear is that the protest in Maple Grove crossed a line in the eyes of the police, leading to the declaration of an unlawful assembly and the arrest of several demonstrators. The situation remains tense as investigations and public debates continue around the recent deaths and the actions of federal agents in the state.
