Retired NYPD detective Mike Alcazar says agitators who seize roadways and impede federal agents in Minneapolis are crossing legal and safety lines, a trend he calls a dangerous departure from established enforcement norms. The controversy followed the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good during an ICE operation, which sparked protests and clashes. City officials stress most demonstrations have remained peaceful while removing street barriers to preserve emergency access. Experts warn that allowing obstruction increases the risk of escalation and harms public safety.
Retired Detective: Minneapolis Street Takeovers, Traffic Direction by Agitators Cross Legal Lines and Threaten Public Safety
Street takeovers and traffic control by agitators in Minnesota cross legal lines, retired detective says
Agitators directing traffic and obstructing law-enforcement activity in Minneapolis have drawn sharp criticism from a retired NYPD detective, who warns that these scenes reflect a troubling normalization of obstruction that endangers public safety and the rule of law.
Residents barricade the 3300 block of Portland Avenue in Minneapolis on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, where Renee Nicole Good was shot the day before by an ICE agent.
Background
Mike Alcazar, a retired NYPD detective and adjunct professor, told Fox News Digital that the kinds of street takeovers and direct interference with federal immigration operations now visible in Minnesota would not have been tolerated during his career. Drawing on decades of experience managing large demonstrations in New York City, Alcazar said protesters were historically allowed to exercise First Amendment rights, but only within clearly enforced boundaries meant to prevent disorder and violence.
An onlooker holds a sign reading "Shame" as law enforcement officers work the scene following a shooting by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on Wednesday.
"It would have been shut down immediately. It never would have happened," Alcazar said.
What Happened
Tensions in Minneapolis surged after a federal immigration enforcement operation during which 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot by an ICE agent. Federal officials said Good attempted to drive her vehicle toward agents; family members and some local leaders dispute that account. The shooting triggered street demonstrations and repeated confrontations between demonstrators and federal personnel.
City Council member Jason Chavez addresses onlookers following a shooting by an ICE agent on Jan. 7, 2026, in Minneapolis.
Fox News correspondent Matt Finn recorded a tense encounter in downtown Minneapolis in which a resident briefly used a vehicle to block Border Patrol agents during an active operation. Finn reported that Border Patrol units often avoid remaining in one place for long because agitators sometimes try to surround or impede them, turning even short delays into potential safety risks.
Residents barricade the 3300 block of Portland Avenue in Minneapolis, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. The block is where Renee Nicole Good was shot by an ICE agent.
Security and Crowd-Control Concerns
Alcazar warned the risks increase when federal agents operate without visible local police support. "ICE agents are trained for enforcement operations — not crowd control," he said. "When local police pull back, you’re leaving federal agents exposed." He added that blurred enforcement lines can invite escalation: surrounding officers, creating confrontations, and introducing objects that could be used as weapons.
Fox News host Laura Ingraham speaks with an agitator during a demonstration in Minneapolis. The agitator claimed she is being paid "right now" to attend the demonstration.
Official Responses
City officials said most recent demonstrations have been peaceful and emphasized steps to protect public safety. The Minneapolis Police Department described lawful assemblies as comparable to other demonstrations the city regularly sees and stressed the importance of keeping streets clear to protect lives and property.
"It’s a recipe for disaster," Michael Alcazar said about leaving federal officers to operate amid disorder. "That’s how civilians get hurt, officers get hurt and situations spiral out of control."
Minneapolis announced it was removing barriers blocking streets near the site of the shooting to ensure emergency access. Interim Minneapolis Fire Department Chief Melanie Rucker warned that blocked streets can delay emergency response and endanger lives, noting crews recently fought a three-alarm fire just blocks from the area.
"Safety has to come first — every second matters when lives are on the line," Rucker said. "When streets are blocked, it slows our response and puts both residents and emergency responders at risk."
Voices From the Field and Politics
Adam Swart, CEO of crowd-management firm Crowds on Demand, said his company declined to participate in Minneapolis demonstrations because many actions crossed into illegal activity, such as blocking streets and obstructing federal personnel. Swart argued that mixing peaceful protesters with those engaging in obstruction creates serious safety risks and complicates law-enforcement responses.
Mark Ross, president of the St. Paul Police Federation, criticized local political leaders and separation ordinances that limit coordination with federal agencies. Ross said limited local crowd-control support could have reduced risks during recent confrontations and reiterated that such assistance would focus on scene safety rather than federal immigration enforcement responsibilities.
Mayor Jacob Frey has vocally criticized federal agents' presence in Minneapolis following the shooting, saying he does not want ICE operating in the city and disputing parts of the Department of Homeland Security’s account. City officials also noted that while memorials placed by community members will remain, surrounding streets must be kept clear to allow emergency vehicles to pass.
Why It Matters
Experts quoted in the reporting warn that permitting civilians to control roadways and interfere with enforcement operations risks escalation, injury and reduced emergency access. Alcazar summarized the concern: unchecked obstruction can blur enforcement standards and invite dangerous behavior that threatens both civilians and officers.
Fox News correspondents Matt Finn and Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
Help us improve.
