Multiple schools in Columbia Heights, a suburban community near Minneapolis, were compelled to close on Monday following a bomb threat deemed credible by local authorities. Despite thorough searches by law enforcement confirming no suspicious devices were found, Columbia Heights Public Schools administration opted for closure as a precautionary measure, with normal classes scheduled to resume Tuesday.
This security incident occurs against a backdrop of escalating tensions surrounding federal immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota. Recent weeks have seen Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations result in student detentions within the district, sparking significant public outcry. The case of five-year-old Liam Ramos, whose photograph being held by ICE agents in a blue bunny-eared hat circulated nationally, became a focal point for critics. Ramos and his father were subsequently released from a Texas detention center over the weekend following a federal judge’s emergency order.
In a related development, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrests of two individuals—Ian Davis Austin and Jerome Deangelo Richardson—in connection with an anti-immigration enforcement protest at a Minnesota church last month. Bondi emphasized on social media that those who “riot in a place of worship” would be found and held accountable.
The legal repercussions extend to media figures as well. Former CNN journalist Don Lemon and eight co-defendants face charges including conspiracy against religious freedom following a January 18th protest at Cities Church in St. Paul. Lemon maintains he was acting as an independent journalist covering the event and was released after a court appearance.
These events unfold amid a substantial deployment of over 3,000 federal immigration officers to Minnesota, part of President Trump’s intensified crackdown on illegal immigration. The operations have drawn criticism after reports emerged that some U.S. citizens, including protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti who were fatally shot by immigration officials in January, have been affected.
The ongoing situation has triggered widespread demonstrations across the United States. Friday witnessed a national “no work, no school, no shopping” strike, with weekend protests continuing in multiple cities including Boston, Los Angeles, and New York, reflecting deepening national divisions over immigration policy.