The fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent on January 24 has intensified unrest in Minneapolis and heightened anxiety across the city’s meetings and events sector. It was the third ICE–related shooting in the metro area in less than a month.
The shooting comes amid Operation Metro Surge, which has deployed more than 3,000 federal immigration agents to Minnesota. The enforcement activity and resulting protests is disrupting events, shuttering hotels, and prompting planners to reconsider Minneapolis as a near-term host city.
Earlier this month, Renée Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on January 7. The incidents have sparked widespread protests and drawn national attention to the city.
Events Disrupted as Protests Escalate
Thousands of protesters marched through downtown Minneapolis on January 23 in subzero temperatures. Organizers said more than 700 businesses closed for the day as part of an economic blackout, while tens of thousands gathered at Target Center to demand the withdrawal of ICE enforcement from the state.
Several high-profile events have been disrupted. Comedian John Mulaney postponed three sold-out shows at the Armory to April, citing safety concerns. Red Bull canceled a street snowboarding competition, and a Hillary Clinton appearance at Target Center was called off due to planned protests. The NBA postponed the Timberwolves–Warriors game scheduled for the evening of the January 24 shooting, citing the need to “prioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community.”
Pat Morgan, producer of the canceled snowboarding event, posted on X: “All my years of producing events, I’ve never had to cancel one due to civil unrest — maybe next time, Minnesota.”
Some events have continued. The Minneapolis Boat Show and Totally Rad Vintage Fest went ahead this weekend at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Planner Anxiety Grows
Wendy Porter, president and chair of the Live Events Coalition and founder of Wendy Porter Events, lives in Minneapolis and said the situation on the ground feels more severe than national coverage suggests.
“We are under siege,” she said, adding she is afraid things will not improve soon. “ICE has hotel reservations in our city until May. Many think we will be occupied at least for the first half of the year.”
She has a client who will be exhibiting at a convention focused on aging services in St. Paul in February. “I’m in the throes of thinking through how my group will be impacted,” she said.
She also pointed to concerns among planners with international attendees.
“I think you would be hard-pressed to get international attendees to come anywhere in the United States in the current political environment,” said Porter. “Hosting in Minnesota right now is particularly concerning. I would advocate that planners consider virtual options for attendees who aren’t comfortable traveling right now.”
Dana Robb, CEO of Barefoot Marketing, which provides association management services to small nonprofits, is bringing a group to Minnesota next month.
“Our numbers are down 20%. Do we think it’s related to the current situation? Of course we do,” she said.
CVB Response and Destination Guidance
Meet Minneapolis, the city’s convention and visitors bureau, said planners have been reaching out with questions about safety and operations.
President and CEO Melvin Tennant said several events have been canceled or postponed, and at least one convention was canceled outright, though organizers requested anonymity.
“The majority of our community does not want to see ICE here, which speaks to the level of passion around this issue,” Tennant said. “At the same time, a major objective for us is helping small businesses survive and keeping our hospitality workforce working.”
Meet Minneapolis has added a dedicated section to its website outlining federal immigration enforcement protocols in the city. The guidance clarifies that while public buildings such as the Minneapolis Convention Center cannot interfere with federal law enforcement, staff will observe and document any ICE presence and request warrants and officer identification.
“Private spaces in the MCC include back-of-house areas, office areas, and space rented by customers for business activities. Customs enforcement activities in these areas would require a signed judicial warrant,” according to Meet Minneapolis.
Meet Minneapolis Ready to Answer Questions
“We have to be mindful of those individuals who are impacted. We don’t want to turn a blind eye,” he said. “We’re a resilient and tested community, and we’ll continue to answer questions honestly.”
Tennant pointed to lessons learned following the killing of George Floyd in 2020. “We became a trusted resource then,” he said. “Our customers appreciate transparency, and we earned trust within the meeting planning community.”
Meet Minneapolis has launched MPLS for MPLS, a community-focused marketing initiative designed to encourage residents to support neighborhood businesses during the disruption. It encourages ways to support local businesses that include grabbing takeout, shopping locally, and ordering online and purchasing gift cards. In addition, it has created a MPLS for MPLS toolkit to share stories about Minneapolis.
The plan also includes paid social media and billboard activations throughout downtown that are scheduled to begin next weekend.
Groups Weigh Safety and Solidarity
The Public Library Association (PLA) is scheduled to bring its 2026 conference to the Minneapolis Convention Center April 1–3. The conference typically draws more than 5,000 U.S. and international attendees. The PLA has added information on immigration enforcement in Minneapolis to its conference FAQ page.
“We know that, like other communities across the country, Minneapolis is navigating a challenging moment,” said Larra Clark, PLA’s deputy director. “We are updating our conference web pages to provide current, accurate information and responding to member inquiries as they arise.”
Since registration opened in October, the association has recorded roughly two dozen cancellations, though Clark said the reasons are unclear and may include employment, financial, or location-related concerns.
“We have heard questions about safety, alongside a strong desire from members to support Minneapolis and connect with colleagues in person,” Clark said.
Hotels Caught in the Crossfire
The unrest has also spilled into the hotel sector.
In early January, a Hampton Inn in the Minneapolis area canceled reservations made by ICE agents, with staff emailing that the property would not permit ICE personnel to stay there. The hotel, which is independently owned and operated, was removed from Hilton’s system after the Department of Homeland Security criticized the brand on social media.
Two St. Paul convention hotels, the InterContinental St. Paul Riverfront and the DoubleTree by Hilton, owned by Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures, the business arm of the indigenous tribe Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, temporarily closed, citing safety concerns. The closures came after Mille Lacs Band members posted questions on social media about whether ICE agents were staying at the tribe’s hotels.
The two hotels combined have more than 600 guest rooms. “The loss of these hotels will impact upcoming conferences,” said Porter.
A Broader Wake-Up Call for Event Professionals
Minneapolis is one of the largest city hubs within Club Ichi, a global community for event marketers. Co-founder Liz Lathan said international members have raised concerns about safety. The community had a live chat about Minneapolis last week.
”One member who joined the conversation is based outside of the U.S. and had questions about his own safety coming into the country for events, as well as how to communicate with his attendees,” said Lathan.
In response, Club Ichi created a safety playbook for event professionals hosting events in the U.S.
