Minnesota CEOs Urge De-escalation and Collaboration Following Fatal Shooting
More than 60 CEOs from prominent Minnesota-based companies have called for immediate de-escalation of tensions and collaboration among state, local, and federal officials. This appeal follows the fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. Released via an open letter, the call highlights widespread disruption and economic impacts stemming from ongoing federal immigration enforcement operations and related protests in the region.
Business Leaders' Call for Action
The open letter, published on the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce website, was signed by CEOs representing a wide array of companies. These include Target, 3M, Cargill, UnitedHealth, Minnesota Vikings, Mayo Clinic, General Mills, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Hormel, Medtronic, U.S. Bancorp, Xcel Energy, and Best Buy.
Notable signatories include 3M CEO William Brown, Best Buy CEO Corie Barry, General Mills CEO Jeff Harmening, Target incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke, and UnitedHealth Group CEO Stephen Hemsley.
The letter urged leaders to work together to find "real solutions." It emphasized a crucial need for:
"Peace and focused cooperation" to achieve a "swift and durable solution" for families, businesses, employees, and communities across Minnesota.
While not naming specific political figures, the letter stated that business community representatives have engaged with federal, state, and local officials. This outreach included discussions with the Governor, the White House, the Vice President, and local mayors, all aimed at fostering progress. Prior to this communication, most major Minnesota-based companies had not issued public statements regarding the enforcement operations and related unrest.
Context of the Operations and Shooting
The call for de-escalation came one day after Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse and U.S. citizen, was fatally shot by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. This incident occurred amidst an increased federal law enforcement presence in the city. Reports indicated the Trump administration had expanded federal operations in the area to enforce immigration policies and investigate allegations of widespread welfare fraud in the state.
Broader Impacts and Reactions
The ongoing federal operations have led to protests and broader impacts on the business community. Some businesses, including Minneapolis-based Target, have been targeted by protesters who perceive them as not taking a sufficiently strong stance regarding federal law enforcement activities.
In a separate incident earlier in January, a Minnesota hotel initially refused to house federal immigration agents. The hotel later issued an apology, stating the refusal violated internal policies following public response online.
The state of Minnesota and the Twin Cities filed a lawsuit earlier this month, seeking a federal judge's order to halt the immigration operations. The lawsuit cited significant economic impacts, asserting that some businesses reported sales drops of up to 80%.