Milwaukee Protest at Downtown ICE Office Highlights Wider Backlash After Fatal Federal Shootings in Minneapolis
A downtown rally tied local concerns to a national debate over immigration enforcement
Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Milwaukee on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office at 310 E. Knapp St., protesting the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement approach and a series of fatal encounters involving federal agents in Minnesota. Participants later marched through the city’s downtown streets despite sub-zero wind chills.
The demonstration was organized by Voces de la Frontera and the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. It followed two high-profile deaths in Minneapolis this month that have prompted protests across Wisconsin and other states.
Two Minneapolis shootings became the immediate catalyst
The Milwaukee protest came amid heightened attention to the Jan. 24 death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse who worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs and grew up in Green Bay. Pretti was killed during a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis involving U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. His death occurred after the Jan. 7 fatal shooting of Renée Nicole Macklin Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, during an ICE operation in Minneapolis.
In the wake of those incidents, the White House publicly indicated that an investigation into Pretti’s death should occur, while broader questions about the use of force and oversight of federal immigration operations have become central to public demonstrations.
What happened in Milwaukee on Jan. 28
Protesters assembled outside the ICE field office at 310 E. Knapp St., an Enforcement and Removal Operations location where certain immigrants report for check-in appointments. From there, participants marched through downtown carrying signs and chanting slogans critical of ICE and supportive of immigrant communities.
- Location: ICE field office, 310 E. Knapp St., Milwaukee
- Date: Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026
- Format: Rally followed by a downtown march
Rumors, anxiety and preparations within immigrant communities
The protest unfolded as immigrant-rights organizations and community groups reported an increase in calls and messages about possible ICE activity in Wisconsin. Community leaders said many reports have proved inaccurate, but the volume has added stress—particularly for undocumented residents—and has fueled demand for “Know Your Rights” presentations and informational outreach.
Milwaukee officials said they had not received confirmation of an imminent large-scale immigration enforcement action in the city, while also acknowledging ongoing discussions with local leaders about preparedness and community communication.
The Jan. 28 Milwaukee protest reflected two overlapping dynamics: anger over fatal federal shootings tied to immigration operations elsewhere, and local concern that enforcement activity could expand closer to home.
What happens next
Organizers and allied groups have continued distributing legal-rights materials and urging residents to verify reports before sharing them widely. Meanwhile, the Minnesota shootings that sparked the Jan. 28 Milwaukee demonstration remain at the center of a rapidly evolving national debate over immigration enforcement tactics, accountability, and public oversight.