Two Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were injured during enforcement actions in St. Paul, Minnesota, as tensions mount between federal agents and local residents and officials.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the agents were injured on Dec. 21 during the apprehension of Cuban national Juan Carlos Rodrigues Romero.

The subject was identified and stopped in his vehicle. He was noncompliant and drove away, striking an officer in his escape attempt, according to the agency.

After a brief pursuit, the agency said Romero stopped near his residence, struck two parked cars, and rammed his SUV into an ICE vehicle, later striking a second ICE officer.

DHS said Romero was eventually arrested, but only after violent resistance, and driving his car into the front door of his apartment complex.

“Two officers sustained non-life threatening injuries and were taken to the hospital for evaluation. Romero was also taken to the hospital for evaluation. [Romero] is currently in ICE custody pending further charges,” the agency said.

The Cuban national was admitted into the United States via the CBP One app in 2024.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told The Epoch Times in response to questions about the state of immigration enforcement in Minnesota, saying, “Our officers are facing a more than 1,050 percent increase in assaults and an 8,000 percent increase in death threats.”

Local Resistance to Federal Enforcement

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Dec. 23 joined religious leaders, mayors, and public safety officials to address the increase in federal immigration enforcement activity in the Twin Cities.

“Minnesota takes public safety seriously,” said Walz. “Public safety is strongest when law enforcement can focus on real threats and when communities trust that they will be treated fairly and with dignity. What we are seeing from the Trump Administration is not about safety—it is political theater that creates fear and weakens trust.”

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks outside the Annunciation Catholic School, in Minneapolis on Aug. 27, 2025. (Bruce Kluckhohn/AP Photo)

The governor said in his speech that he agreed immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, but accused the operations in Minnesota of lacking coordination, professionalism, and communication from federal officials.

McLaughlin, in her statement to The Epoch Times, accused Walz of “trying to spread misinformation” and suggested that he “should focus on protecting American lives and thanking the brave men and women of ... DHS law enforcement who are risking their lives to make communities in his state safer.”

The DHS assistant secretary also confirmed that U.S. citizens who “assault and obstruct law enforcement have been arrested,”

“Obstructing law enforcement is not protesting, it is a crime,” she said.

Contention about federal immigration enforcement has been at a fever pitch in Minnesota, with dozens of Minneapolis residents criticizing the operations at a City Council meeting on Dec. 9. They said city ordinances should be updated to protect illegal immigrants due to what they consider to be aggressive enforcement.

In September, the Trump administration sued a number of places, including Minneapolis, its twin city of St. Paul, and the state of Minnesota, over sanctuary policies aiming to shield illegal immigrants.

Community members gather for a public hearing as the Minneapolis City Council considers strengthening the city’s separation ordinance barring cooperation with ICE in Minneapolis, Minn., on Dec. 9, 2025. (Jenn Ackerman for The Epoch Times)

Meanwhile, a local Democratic Socialists of America chapter in Minneapolis is planning to continue protesting immigration enforcement.

The Twin Cities chapter of Democratic Socialists of America announced an event on Dec. 27, focused on working with local businesses on “how to keep workers and community safe from ICE.”

The Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee has also been persistent in opposing ICE operations, describing on social media a successful turnout for an anti-ICE rally on Dec. 20.

“We took to the streets with THOUSANDS today to let ICE know they are not welcome here!!!!” the group posted on Facebook. “WHEN IMMIGRANTS ARE UNDER ATTACK, WHAT DO WE DO? STAND UP FIGHT BACK!”

Local news Crime Watch Minneapolis reported that an uptown McDonald’s now locks its doors during business hours and monitors entry to “ensure a safe environment.”

“We will deny access to any individual who we consider a risk to maintaining a safe environment for our guests,” says the sign on the door.

Just days ago, Minnesota state Rep. Alexander Falconer addressed a group of Minnesotans about being part of the “resistance network” in their state. He encouraged anyone inside or outside the group to alert its members to possible ICE movements via an encrypted messaging group on the Signal app.

Falconer did not immediately respond to The Epoch Times’s request for comment.

Recently, Minnesota has also been under increased scrutiny due to a House Committee on Oversight investigation seeking records from Walz and state Attorney General Keith Ellison, related to potentially billions of stolen taxpayer dollars through the state’s welfare programs.

Janice Hisle contributed to this report.