Fear of ICE Patrols Leaves Minneapolis Businesses, Mall Empty
In Minneapolis, fear of arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents has cast a shadow over daily life, leaving businesses shuttered and shopping malls eerily quiet. The Somali community, one of the largest immigrant groups in the city, has been particularly affected, citing repeated targeting under U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.
At Karmel Mall in south Minneapolis, a sprawling complex that houses more than a hundred Somali owned businesses, the impact is visible. Normally bustling with shoppers and families, the hallways were silent on a recent afternoon. Clothing boutiques, food stalls, insurance offices, and accounting services sat largely empty, their owners waiting for customers who never arrived.
The atmosphere inside the mall reflected the tension outside. The smell of fried food still drifted from bakeries, central heating hummed through the corridors, and soft Quran recitations played from some shops. Yet the usual chatter and laughter were replaced by hushed conversations between neighboring vendors. Many shopkeepers sat alone, resigned to a day without sales.
Business owners say the fear is universal. “Everyone is afraid of federal immigration agents,” one vendor explained. The anxiety extends beyond immigrants without legal status. Citizens, permanent residents, and even long time business owners worry about being questioned or harassed. Some merchants have stopped opening their shops altogether, convinced that customers will stay away.
Community leaders warn that the economic impact could be severe. Somali owned businesses contribute significantly to Minneapolis’s local economy, providing jobs and services to thousands of residents. With shops closing and foot traffic disappearing, livelihoods are at risk.
The fear stems from heightened immigration enforcement and rhetoric that has singled out Somali and other immigrant communities. For many, the threat feels personal. Families avoid public spaces, parents keep children home, and entrepreneurs hesitate to invest in their businesses.
Local advocates have called for reassurance and protection, urging city officials to support immigrant communities and ensure that public spaces remain safe. They argue that the climate of fear undermines not only economic activity but also social cohesion in a city known for its diversity.
For now, the once vibrant Karmel Mall stands as a symbol of uncertainty. Its quiet corridors and shuttered shops reflect the deep unease gripping Minneapolis’s Somali community, where the fear of ICE patrols has turned everyday commerce into a risk too great to take.
