MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Garrison Gibson, a man who fled civil war in Liberia as a child, expressed fear for his safety after being arrested during the Trump administration’s latest immigration enforcement operation and then released from an immigration detention center. Gibson's experience reflects the tension in Minneapolis, where over 2,500 arrests have been made as part of the federal government’s intensified crackdown on undocumented immigrants.
The incident received widespread attention when footage emerged of federal officers forcibly breaking down Gibson’s door with a battering ram on January 11.
Protests erupted in the Twin Cities, with advocates rallying against what they view as aggressive immigration tactics. Gibson, 38, was ordered to be deported due to a 2008 drug conviction that was later dismissed, but he has lived legally in the U.S. under an order of supervision.
After being arrested, a judge ruled that immigration officials had not given Gibson proper notice of the revocation of his supervision status. However, Gibson was placed back in custody during a routine check-in with immigration authorities just days later, allegedly ordered by White House officials, including Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.
The White House strongly denied this account, asserting that Miller had no involvement in Gibson’s re-arrest.
Community members voiced their fear and anger over the incidents, as Gibson himself remarked, “I don’t leave the house.” He described the impact of the raid, stating that his family had to use a dumbbell to keep their front door closed until they could afford to fix it. “I’ve been checking in regularly for 17 years. If I was a violent person, I would not have been out this long,” Gibson stated at a press conference.
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security defended the crackdown, referring to Gibson’s case as an example of a judicial overreach that hinders efforts against illegal immigration. Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin affirmed their commitment to the removal of undocumented immigrants, as the crackdown, termed the largest of its kind in Minnesota, continues to fuel daily protests.
These protests have escalated into confrontations with law enforcement, resulting in tragic incidents including the fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen during a demonstration. In response, a federal judge recently ruled that immigration officers cannot detain or use tear gas on peaceful protesters, establishing important limits on federal enforcement tactics.
