Target built its brand on community trust, but one ICE incident is unraveling that image fast

Target, one of Minnesota’s largest corporate employers, is facing mounting employee anger and public backlash after federal immigration agents detained two workers inside a suburban Minneapolis store last month. The highly visible incident has forced major Minnesota businesses to clarify how employees should respond when Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrive at workplaces.

As first reported by the BBC, the detentions unfolded in full view of customers and staff. Masked agents reportedly pinned the two workers to the ground near the store entrance before placing them in a vehicle, while one of the detained employees shouted, “I’m literally a US citizen.”

The arrests sparked immediate internal backlash at Target. More than 300 employees signed an internal letter calling on executives to publicly address the incident and take steps to prevent ICE officers from entering company property.

The arrests have pushed workers to question Target’s values

For some employees, the incident marked a breaking point, and staff frustration echoes coverage of the broader political climate around labor and immigration, such as reporting on U.S.-Iran talks and shifting narratives. Sandra Macmillan, a 71-year-old cashier who had worked for Target in Texas since 2021, said she resigned after watching videos of the arrests online. She described the incident as the “last straw,” saying she saw no acknowledgement or response from corporate leadership.

Target has not issued a public statement directly addressing the January detentions. New CEO Michael Fiddelke spoke to employees in a late January video message but did not reference ICE, instead offering general remarks about community pain and emphasizing that employee and guest safety remained a top priority.

The controversy is unfolding alongside a broader federal crackdown on immigration. President Trump’s administration has deployed thousands of ICE agents to the Minneapolis area under an effort known as Operation Metro Surge, which officials say is focused on arresting undocumented immigrants with criminal records.

However, the enforcement sweep has affected people beyond that group. Migrants with no criminal history and even US citizens have reportedly been detained, and federal agents shot and killed two US citizens in Minneapolis last month, heightening fear and scrutiny around ICE operations.

Workplaces have increasingly become focal points for these actions, placing employers in a difficult position. Target, along with companies such as Home Depot and Hilton, has faced protests from anti-ICE activists demanding stronger resistance and clearer policies.

Some employees say guidance from management has been inconsistent or nonexistent. A Target worker in Milwaukee said he had received no instructions on what to do if ICE agents appeared at his store, adding to staff anxiety.

Legally, companies have limited authority to intervene. ICE agents generally need a judicial warrant to access non-public areas like break rooms, but store floors and parking lots fall into a gray area that often leaves employers making split-second decisions.

Concerns among workers also surface in other reporting on political pressures affecting everyday Americans, such as analysis of Bernie Sanders’s record and campaign approaches. Union officials say workers fear being detained based on race alone, and several employees have resigned, saying the company’s silence has crossed a line.