In the quiet towns of Sioux County, residents watch the events in Minneapolis unfold with a mixture of sorrow, anger and concern. While the unrest is centered hundreds of miles away, the emotional impact has reached deep into northwest Iowa. Where faith communities and families say they feel connected to their neighbors across the state line.
The protests in Minneapolis erupted after federal immigration agents shot and killed two American citizens earlier this month. On Jan. 7, Renee Nicole Good was killed behind the wheel of her car. On Jan. 24, Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, was shot while attending a protest against immigration enforcement. Both deaths occurred during a large-scale federal operation known as “Operation Metro Surge,” which brought about 3,000 immigration officers into the city.
The violence has shaken Minnesota. Tens of thousands marched in Minneapolis in late January, with an estimated 50,000 people participating in a general strike on Jan. 23. Vigils have been held along Nicolett Avenue, where mourners gathered in subzero temperatures, burning sage and offering prayers for the dead. Community members have described feelings of grief, fear and helplessness, while also emphasizing the importance of, and comfort felt in unity and mutual support.
In Sioux County, where strong church ties and agriculture shape daily life, many residents say they see parallels between their values and the concerns voiced by protesters in Minnesota. Church members from local congregations have spoken during Sunday services about the shootings, urging compassion and prayer for everybody involved. Some pastors have framed the issue as a moral and humanitarian question.
Families in towns like Orange City and Sioux Center have personal connections to the Twin Cities. College students attend school here. This student’s relatives may live and work in Minneapolis hospitals, schools and businesses. For some in Sioux County, watching video footage of confrontations between immigration agents and protesters has been a deeply personal experience: seeing the danger posed to their families, worrying and being unable to help because they’re hundreds of miles away.
Several students at Northwestern college have described a complicated mix of emotions: grief for the lives lost, concern about escalating violence and uncertainty over what might come next. At the same time, there must be a focus on the importance of peaceful expression.
In Minneapolis, while some protests turned destructive, including vandalism at a hotel believed to house immigration officers, others remained peaceful, centered on prayer circles, overpass sign-waving and community support. Businesses there have reportedly posted notices requiring judicial warrants before allowing immigration enforcement inside.
In Sioux County, conversations at coffee shops and kitchen tables reflect similar tensions. Some residents argue that immigration laws must be enforced, but question whether tactics have gone too far. Others express worry about federal agents entering schools or churches, saying such actions cross boundaries. Even among those who support stricter enforcement, there is concern about the optics and training of immigration officers during large operations.
NW staff have encouraged civil dialogue, and have stressed that disagreement does not have to lead to division or violence. Many point to Christ’s example of leading through love.
The unrest in Minneapolis has also reopened wounds for some who remember the 2020 murder of George Floyd and the nationwide protests that followed. For many residents of Sioux County, and students of NW those events were once something watched on television. Now, with new conflict in a neighboring state, the issues surely feel closer to home.
As one NW student put it during a small group discussion, “We may be Iowa nice, but we still believe in standing together when people are hurting.”
