The checkout line has become the front line of America’s immigration war. In Minnesota, a revolt is brewing among employees of retail giant Target, who are demanding their corporate bosses take a stand against the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration crackdowns that have turned their workplaces into hunting grounds.

Rising discontent has engulfed major businesses, but the epicenter is Target, one of the state’s flagship employers. The catalyst? A harrowing incident last month where two workers were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents inside a suburban Minneapolis store. The raid, captured on video, showed masked agents pinning employees to the ground—a brutal spectacle that has left staff traumatized and furious.

"I’m Literally a US Citizen"

The details of the raid are chilling. Video footage reviewed by the BBC shows agents using force against employees in the store's entryway, with one detained worker screaming, "I'm literally a US citizen." The indiscriminate nature of the aggression has shattered the illusion of safety for the workforce. Sandra Macmillan, a 71-year-old cashier, resigned in protest after seeing the company's silence. "I looked online and saw no response from Target," she said. "There was no acknowledgement whatsoever. That was the last straw."

More than 300 staff members have now signed an internal letter urging executives to speak up and implement protocols to keep ICE off Target properties. They are pushing for clearer guidance on how to handle federal agents and demanding that the company do more to limit access to stores and parking lots.

• Corporate Paralysis: Target's new CEO, Michael Fiddelke, finds himself in a precarious position. While he expressed in a video message that "the violence and loss of life in our community is incredibly painful," the corporate response has been criticized as vague. Experts note that companies are navigating a "murky legal area" regarding their ability to restrict federal law enforcement access.
• The Bigger Picture: This unrest is not isolated. It reflects a broader anxiety across the US labor market as the Trump administration ramps up "Project 2025"-style enforcement. Workers are no longer just asking for better wages; they are asking for physical protection from the state apparatus.

A Crisis of Trust

For Target, a brand that prides itself on community values, this is a reputation crisis of the highest order. The image of uniformed agents tackling staff next to shopping carts is a PR nightmare that platitudes cannot fix. The workers’ demands are clear: they want their employer to be a shield, not a bystander.

As pressure mounts, the retail giant is forced to decide where it stands. In the polarized climate of 2026 America, neutrality is no longer an option. For the staff on the floor, the question is simple: "Am I next?"