On January 26, a protest outside the SpringHill Suites hotel in Maple Grove, Minnesota, turned chaotic, resulting in the arrest of at least 26 anti-ICE demonstrators. The incident occurred after far-left extremists reportedly besieged the property, claiming Border Patrol leader Gregory Bovino was staying there.
Among those taken into custody was Justin Neal Shelton, a 37-year-old St. Paul resident charged with obstructing legal process. Court records show Shelton has a criminal history dating back to 2007, including a conviction for assaulting a pregnant woman during an attempted carjacking; he served approximately five years in prison for that offense.
Abraham Nelson Coleman, 45, was also arrested on allegations of damaging property outside the hotel. Public records indicate Coleman has accumulated multiple theft and property-related convictions since 2003. Rayna Michelle Alston, 21, received a riot charge and has previously voiced support for anti-ICE demonstrations online, sharing posts that call for disruption and resistance against federal immigration enforcement.
Maple Grove Police Department stated: “The protest was declared an unlawful assembly after property damage and violence occurred.” Officers intervened following reports of confrontations with law enforcement and incidents of property damage.
This escalation reflects heightened tensions in Minnesota surrounding federal immigration operations. In recent weeks, anti-ICE activists have staged demonstrations at hotels, government buildings, and other locations believed to be connected to Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Customs and Border Protection activities. Some protests have turned violent, with federal agents reporting injuries during clashes with demonstrators attempting to block enforcement actions.
A number of hotels across the state are now canceling or restricting bookings for federal agents, citing safety concerns.
