ICE says 14 arrested in St. Paul Bro‑Tex raid; city leaders decry chemical spray as fundraiser tops $25K
Federal authorities say 14 people were arrested for immigration violations during an ICE worksite enforcement action at Bro‑Tex in St. Paul — an operation ICE says was assisted by FBI and DEA and in which DHS noted one arrestee had past domestic‑abuse charges and another is suspected of illegal reentry; families have publicly identified several detainees and a fundraiser for one worker topped $25,000. The raid drew roughly 200 protesters, videos and officials report federal personnel used a chemical irritant (described by the mayor as tear gas) and at least one person reported being struck by rubber bullets, photographers say they were targeted, and St. Paul leaders and the city council have called for investigations into use of force and adherence to the city’s separation ordinance.
📌 Key Facts
- ICE executed a search warrant at Bro‑Tex in St. Paul as part of a criminal worksite‑enforcement investigation; DHS/ICE says 14 people were arrested for immigration violations.
- DHS/ICE framed the operation as targeting illegal employment networks and potential labor trafficking; they said among the 14 one had past domestic‑abuse charges and another is suspected of felony illegal reentry, and ICE identified at least one arrestee as a Honduran national.
- Family members publicly named detained workers including Carlos Alberto Alarcón Avila, Camilo Morales Sanchez and Jamie Solano Godinez; a fundraiser for Alarcón Avila surpassed $25,000 by Nov. 20.
- Roughly 200 people — including elected officials and immigrant‑rights leaders — gathered outside Bro‑Tex to protest, and some reports say protesters were tipped off ahead of the raid.
- Federal personnel used a chemical irritant/tear gas to disperse protesters; witnesses and Mayor Melvin Carter said people were seen flushing their eyes and being treated, video shows agents shoving people, at least one protester reported being struck by rubber bullets, and one woman detained at the scene was later released the same day.
- FBI and DEA confirmed they assisted ICE/HSI during the operation; a city council member initially said St. Paul Police Department and the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office were not involved, but the St. Paul City Council has since called for investigations into officers’ use of force, adherence to the city’s separation ordinance, and an audit of public costs, with formal action planned for Dec. 3.
- Photographers and journalists reported being targeted by St. Paul police during the protest; the Society of Professional Journalists has called for a review of SPPD’s treatment of working photojournalists.
- Community groups say agents staged at Newell Park before the raid, and advocates shared on‑the‑ground accounts — including workers being zip‑tied and removed — as attorneys check for additional detained individuals.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2023, the Payne-Phalen neighborhood in Saint Paul, Minnesota, had a racial composition of 36.3% Asian, 25.4% White, 15.8% Black, 8.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 7.4% two or more races.
Payne-Phalen neighborhood in Saint Paul, Minnesota (MN), 55101 ... — city-data.com
In 2022, there were an estimated 70,000 unauthorized immigrants in Minnesota's labor force, comprising 2.2% of the state's workforce.
The Role of Undocumented Immigrants in Minnesota's Workforce — mn.gov/deed
Foreign-born workers in Minnesota are more likely than native-born workers to have less than a high school education and also more likely to have a graduate or professional degree, reflecting a bifurcated educational attainment.
The Growth and Impact of Minnesota's Foreign-Born Workforce — mn.gov/deed
In 2024, the St. Paul Police Department used force in 0.36% of police encounters, with 99.64% of encounters resulting in no force being used.
Use-of-Force Report (2024) | Saint Paul Minnesota — stpaul.gov
During use-of-force incidents in 2024 by the St. Paul Police Department, 91% of subjects were not injured, 8% had a minor injury, and 0.6% had a major injury.
Saint Paul Police Department — stpaul.gov
Living near areas subject to immigration enforcement raids increases the risk of negative mental health outcomes among children of immigrants.
Potential Impacts of Mass Detention and Deportation Efforts on ... — KFF
📰 Sources (10)
- St. Paul City Council will move on Dec. 3 to formally initiate investigations into SPPD’s actions during the ICE raid protest.
- Investigations will examine adherence to the city’s separation ordinance, use‑of‑force decisions, and include an audit of public costs.
- Expanded on-record statements from council leadership (Yang, Noecker, Kim) calling for accountability and policy changes.
- The St. Paul City Council formally called for an investigation into officers’ use of force during the ICE operation and ensuing protest.
- The council’s action specifically responds to concerns about chemical agents/tear gas deployed during the operation.
- The Society of Professional Journalists says multiple photographers reported being targeted by St. Paul police during the protest/raid operation.
- SPJ publicly called for a review/response from St. Paul Police regarding treatment of working photojournalists.
- The brief adds a press‑freedom angle to earlier reports focused on arrests and use of chemical irritants.
- ICE publicly identified one of the St. Paul arrestees as a Honduran national.
- Family members publicly named another man they say was detained in the same operation.
- Article provides person‑level identification details that were not in prior summaries of the raid.
- DHS says among the 14 arrested, one had past domestic abuse charges and another is suspected of illegal reentry (a felony).
- Families publicly identified additional detained workers: Camilo Morales Sanchez and Jamie Solano Godinez (in addition to previously noted Carlos Alberto Alarcón Avila).
- DHS provided a statement framing worksite enforcement as a cornerstone for public safety, national security and anti‑trafficking efforts.
- St. Paul City Council Vice President Hwa Jeong Kim and Mayor‑elect Kaohly Her spoke at a press conference/vigil condemning the violence during the raid.
- Fundraiser for detained worker Alarcón Avila surpassed its $25,000 goal by Nov. 20; family details his community ties and lack of criminal record.
- Reporter on scene described federal agents using chemical agents to disperse protesters; Mayor Melvin Carter said people were tear‑gassed and treated their eyes.
- Article reiterates DHS specifics: 14 arrests for immigration violations; one arrestee with past domestic abuse charges and another alleged felony illegal re‑entry.
- DHS/ICE confirmed 14 people were arrested for immigration violations at Bro‑Tex.
- ICE said one arrestee had past domestic abuse charges and another committed a felony by illegally re‑entering the U.S.
- ICE framed the action as worksite enforcement targeting illegal employment networks and potential labor trafficking/exploitation.
- Additional protest details: federal personnel used chemical irritant; a woman reported being struck by rubber bullets; one protester was detained and released later the same day.
- COPAL says at least two Bro‑Tex workers were detained; attorneys are checking if more were taken into custody.
- Roughly 200 people gathered outside Bro‑Tex on Wednesday; elected officials and immigrant‑rights leaders spoke.
- Protesters were sprayed with a chemical irritant; video shows people in front of moving federal vehicles and agents shoving individuals aside.
- A woman cuffed at the scene was held at the Whipple Federal Building and later released the same day.
- FBI and DEA confirmed they assisted ICE/HSI during the operation; SPPD and the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office were not involved, per a city council member.
- Agents reportedly staged at Newell Park before the raid; COPAL shared an anecdote of a St. Paul father and his brother being zip‑tied and removed.
- ICE confirms agents executed a search warrant at Bro‑Tex as part of a criminal investigation.
- ICE states there was no threat to public safety and the investigation is ongoing.
- Report that protesters were tipped off ahead of the raid.
- Mayor Melvin Carter quoted on scene saying protesters were 'tear‑gassed' and seen flushing their eyes.
- Immigrant Defense Network scheduled a vigil and press conference for 9 a.m. Wednesday outside the business.