Report From Minneapolis Neighborhood Raises Eyebrows
Reports emerging from Minneapolis suggest a new and more confrontational tactic has entered the ongoing conflict between immigration enforcement authorities and anti-ICE activists, one that shifts from protest and rhetoric to direct interference with federal operations.
According to accounts shared by a former state legislator, activists have begun distributing 3D-printed devices designed to deflate vehicle tires, accompanied by printed instructions encouraging their use against Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicles.
The devices, described as small “tire-drainers,” were allegedly found in a neighborhood near the University of Minnesota. Jerry Munson, a former state representative, said he recovered a package containing five of the items along with a flyer that left little ambiguity about their intended purpose.
The language urged recipients to target unattended ICE vehicles and framed the act as a form of community protection rather than vandalism or sabotage. The instructions outlined a step-by-step process and emphasized speed, secrecy, and avoiding recovery of the device once air began leaking from the tire.
The messaging accompanying the devices reflected a strategic calculation rather than spontaneous activism. The flyer argued that ICE operations are dependent on mobility and claimed that disabling vehicles could significantly disrupt enforcement efforts.
On the reverse side, the materials reportedly included a QR code linking to the digital design file used to manufacture the drainers, as well as contact information for requesting additional devices. The inclusion of a downloadable file suggests an effort to decentralize production and scale the tactic beyond a single group or neighborhood.
This development comes amid heightened tensions in Minneapolis over immigration enforcement and public safety, tensions that have already drawn national attention. Rather than prompting a retreat, the alleged campaign appears to have produced the opposite response from federal authorities.
The Department of Homeland Security has indicated that it will increase, not reduce, its presence in the city, committing an additional 1,000 officers to operations there. That decision signals a hardening of positions on both sides and raises the likelihood of further escalation.
What stands out is how quickly the conflict has moved from protests and political statements into actions that directly interfere with law enforcement infrastructure. Even supporters of aggressive activism may question the wisdom of tactics that expose participants to serious legal risk while inviting a stronger federal response.