Target faces protests after ICE detains US citizen employees at Minnesota store

Target has come under pressure from protesters and pols in its home state of Minnesota after ICE agents detained two employees of the big box retailer who were US citizens.Federal immigration agents detained the workers inside a Richfield, Minn., store on Jan.8 after a confrontation that began in the parking lot and spilled into the vestibule, according to local officials and witness accounts.One of the employees shouted, “I’m literally a US citizen!” as agents escorted him toward a vehicle, The Wall Street Journal noted.The duo, Jonathan Aguilar Garcia and Christian Miranda Romano, were doing drive-up duty when they were stopped by agents led by a senior US Border Patrol commander, officials said.Minnesota state Rep.

Michael Howard said the agents entered the store without a warrant and physically detained the workers, while family members and witnesses alleged the incident amounted to racial profiling.The Department of Homeland Security later said on social media that one individual had been arrested for “assaulting a federal law enforcement offers [sic],” which the defendants’ families and local officials denied.Both employees were eventually released.One was reportedly dropped off injured and crying at a nearby Walmart parking lot while the other was briefly taken to a detention center before being let go.The Post has sought comment from Target, DHS, ICE and US Customs and Border Protection.

Garcia and Romano were not immediately available for comment.Protests erupted outside the Richfield Target store days after the detentions, with demonstrators demanding the retailer take steps to protect workers and customers from federal immigration agents operating on its property.Activists chanted, held signs and confronted store management during a Saturday demonstration that drew local residents and faith-based groups.Organizers said they asked Target to train employees on how to respond to immigration agents, including informing them that access to privat...