A peaceful lunch at a Minneapolis deli descended into chaos for a group of five software engineers after they were mistakenly targeted by an angry mob who believed they were undercover Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
A Lunch Interrupted by Hostile Protesters
The men were dining at Clancy's Deli when dozens of anti-ICE protesters gathered outside the restaurant's windows. Video obtained by Alpha News captured the moment the crowd began shouting obscenities, with one protester yelling, 'Get out of our f***ing neighbourhood' and another declaring, 'If you're not with us, you're against us.'
One of the alleged victims, identified only as Lee, told the outlet the abuse escalated further, with demonstrators calling the group paedophiles and one screaming 'I hope you die.' Lee claimed the mob's ringleader justified the harassment by labelling the diners as 'white privileged males.'
False Allegation Sparks Rapid Mobilisation
The incident was triggered by a message sent in a 'SW Minneapolis Rapid Response' Signal chat group, which falsely claimed that plain-clothed ICE officers were at the deli and that this had been 'confirmed by the owner.' One of Lee's friends was in the chat and received the alert.
Lee claims it took just 15 minutes for a large crowd to assemble. The engineers were photographed and filmed as they ate. When they attempted to leave, the group became hostile, hurling insults and blowing whistles. Despite explaining they were app developers for local Minnesota businesses, the mob refused to believe them.
In video of the confrontation, one protester is heard yelling 'you look like a f***ing ICE agent' while others demanded they leave. One engineer retorted, 'This is what's wrong with your guys' cause,' prompting a protester to ask if he supported them. He replied, 'The way you guys are acting? No. And I don't support ICE either. I'm just trying to enjoy my lunch!'
Aftermath and Broader Political Context
Lee alleged the restaurant owner was responsible for the dangerous situation by making the false claim. 'You don't tell extremists that random customers are ICE agents. That's how people get hurt,' he said, revealing one friend feared they were going to be shot.
The experience has had a profound personal impact. Lee stated that before the incident, the group held mixed views on ICE, with one supporter, one opponent, and others undecided. 'After this, I think some of them are rethinking everything,' he told Alpha News.
The confrontation occurred against a backdrop of intense anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis, where federal authorities have been conducting large-scale immigration operations. Demonstrations erupted following the January 7 shooting death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, who was shot three times through her car window by ICE agent Jonathan 'Jon' Ross after refusing to exit her vehicle.
In a significant escalation, the Pentagon on Sunday ordered approximately 1,500 active-duty soldiers from the Army's 11th Airborne Division to be ready for a potential deployment to Minnesota. This preparation order came after President Donald Trump threatened to invoke the rarely used Insurrection Act to quell protests against immigration enforcement, though he later suggested it was not needed 'right now.'
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, has urged the President to de-escalate the situation, stating publicly, 'I'm making a direct appeal to the President: Let's turn the temperature down. Stop this campaign of retribution. This is not who we are.'
