FMLN MINNESOTA"Combatiente Anonimo": "Shut Down ICE!" 30 Arrested in Civil Disobedience at Bloomington Facility

mmigrant rights activists and allies took action today at ICE headquarters at 2901 Metro Boulevard in Bloomington, near the Mall of America and 28th Avenue rail station. The nondescript facility is where individuals are temporarily held before deportation.

Local immigrants' rights activists demand that Obama sign an executive order to stop all raids and deportations conducted from this facility and every one like it nationwide.

Arriving before 7am, the highly organized contingent led by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Coalition held a press conference and began a legal demonstration in front of the building on American Boulevard.

Those who planned to commit civil disobedience then moved into place.
About 30 activists were arrested as they blocked the entrances to the Bloomington Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility as a support rally took place nearby.

After activists had blocked all four driveways, Bloomington police clad in helmets and carrying extended batons, marking rounds and chemical canisters congregated around the activists at the east side of the facility.

As activists from the initial blockade were arrested one by one and loaded onto a city-owned bus, others came from the other blockades to take their place. On the bus activists chanted and rocked vigorously.

After the approximately twenty activists were arrested, the full bus was driven to the police station, returning thirty minutes later when the remaining activists were arrested.

As one protestor lay on the ground, detained activists called for medical assistance. Police refused the assistance of one of the activist medics over her protests that she held medical certification.

A police paramedic got the protester up and loaded into a squad car. According to police he was driven to the Bloomington police station for booking. Another arrestee screamed from inside the bus for a medic to cut the plastic handcuffs off of another arrestee. Jail support is currently taking place. Check back to Twin Cities Indymedia later today for a longer story, photos and any updates.