For many years, the official U.S. policy when dealing with terrorists has been "no concessions." It's often classified as "we don't negotiate with terrorists," and means the U.S. — by and large — will deny hostage takers ransom, prisoner releases, and policy changes. It's the right approach, of course. Terrorists are violent bullies, and you should not give them an inch.
In Minnesota, I would argue the anti-ICE protesters are actual domestic terrorists (as opposed to the concerned parents, Catholics, and veterans labeled "domestic terrorists" by the Biden administration). They're using violence and the threat of violence to sway public policy and demand prisoner releases, namely the criminal illegal aliens being rounded up by ICE.
I know this because Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey gave away the game just the other day: if ICE leaves his city, he said, there will be peace. What he means is he'll call off his violent foot soldiers once he gets his way, and absent that, he'll continue to hold his city hostage to the whim of insane Leftists who are stopping and demanding innocent civilians prove they're not ICE agents.
ICE and the Trump administration should not give them an inch on this. And after yesterday's stunt — where Don Lemon led a mob into a church — there needs to be arrests made.
Minnesota Bishop Robert Barron also weighed in on this, calling on ICE to stop to restore peace.
As a resident of Minnesota and as bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, my heart is breaking over the situation in my home state. Violence, retribution, threats, protests, deep suspicion of one another, political unrest, fear—all of it swirling around all the time. May I…
— Bishop Robert Barron (@BishopBarron) January 18, 2026
He wrote:
May I make a modest proposal for exiting this unbearable state of affairs? The Trump Administration and ICE should limit themselves, at least for the time being, to rounding up undocumented people who have committed serious crimes. Political leaders should stop stirring up resentment against officers who are endeavoring to enforce the laws of the country. And protestors should cease interfering with the work of ICE. And everyone on all sides must stop shouting at one another and demonizing their opponents. Where we are now is untenable. There is a way out.
The Trump administration would limit itself to violent criminals if the authorities in Minnesota honored ICE detainers, let ICE into prisons, and allowed ICE to deport those violent offenders. Minnesota doesn't. That's a clear choice made by Tim Walz, Jacob Frey, and other Minnesota Democrats who have decided the "rights" of violent illegals trump American laws and the safety of our communities.
Last week, Ilhan Omar said ICE wasn't arresting any criminals, a claim that was easily debunked by the dozens of violent offenders whose images and criminal background were shared by ICE.
BREAKING: ICE has provided @FoxNews a list of the most egregious criminal aliens they've arrested during their surge in the sanctuary state of Minnesota, & it's the most disturbing list I've ever seen, including numerous convicted child rapists/sodomizers & ten convicted killers,… pic.twitter.com/xukxfLd4gZ
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) January 10, 2026
This includes:
Sriudorn Phaivan, a Laotian illegal alien convicted of strong-arm sodomy of a boy & strong-arm sodomy of a girl with a deportation order since 2018.
Tou Vang, a Laotian illegal alien convicted of sexual assault and sodomy of a girl under age 13 and procuring a child for prostitution with a deportation order since 2006.
Chong Vue, a Laotian illegal alien convicted of the strong-arm rape of a 12-year-old girl and kidnapping a child with intent to sexually assault her, with a deportation order since 2004.
Ge Yang, a Laotian illegal alien convicted of strong-arm rape, aggravated assault with a weapon, and strangulation with a deportation order since 2012.
Pao Choua Xiong, a Laotian illegal alien convicted of rape and child fondling with a deportation order since 2003.
Kou Lor, a Laotian illegal alien convicted of rape, rape with a weapon, and sexual assault with a deportation order since 1996.
Hernan Cortes-Valencia, Mexican illegal alien convicted of sexual assault of a child and DUI with a deportation order since 2016.
Abdirashid Adosh Elmi, a Somalian illegal alien convicted of homicide.
Some of these men have deportation orders dating back to when I was in high school or to a time before my children were born. Not deporting them prior to this was a choice made by previous administrations, Republican and Democrat, to the point where enforcing immigration laws looks like tyranny.
It's not tyranny, of course, and the Left was singing a different tune when Obama was deporting millions of illegals, including breaking up families — a policy Obama himself said he had a duty to enforce as President. Even CNN did a glowing report about a ride-along with ICE. ICE hasn't fundamentally changed in those years, just the president.
As always, it's (D)ifferent when they do it.
Catholic teaching on this issue is clear. Here's what it says (emphasis added):
2241 The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him.
Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants’ duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens.
We are trillions in debt. Somali migrants in Minnesota have stolen $9 billion in tax dollars meant for the needy. At least one vulnerable Minnesota man has died because of the Medicaid fraud, and one legitimate autism center is being forced to close its doors, leaving 120 people unemployed and hundreds of autistic kids without a place to go. That is a travesty of justice. It's clear we have far exceeded the extent to which we are able to "welcome the foreigner."
And in terms of illegals respecting our "material and spiritual heritage," that's not happening, either. See the Somalis above, or the Muslims in Dearborn and elsewhere who are slow-walking sharia law into our cities, or the violent gangs in Colorado who terrorize citizens and take over entire apartment complexes. Demanding assimilation and gratitude, we're told, is "racism" and "xenophobia." In 2024, I even wrote about how the illegal immigrants in New York complained that the food, housing, and other benefits weren't good enough. How long must we get kicked in the teeth by people who hate us and everything we stand for?
Donald Trump was elected precisely because people were fed up with this stuff.
ICE needs to continue enforcing immigration laws against all illegal immigrants. Every single one of them broke American law the second they set foot on this soil outside of the immigration process. That shows a profound disrespect for our laws from the outset; if you're not willing to obey the laws when you get here, it doesn't matter if you obey the rest when you do arrive.
What Bishop Barron is demanding is that ICE and the Trump administration cave to the bullies and ignore the will of the voters. He's asking that they let the violent mobs who are threatening to kill ICE agents and their spouses, harassing innocent civilians, and invading worship service, win by pulling out of Minneapolis. That is not only wrong, it's also immoral. Minnesota Democrats refuse to hand over these murderers, rapists, and robbers. Yet not once did Barron call on the Democrats to cooperate with the perfectly legitimate laws that govern immigration and deportation. And as his colleague, Cardinal Cupich in Illinois, is learning, the Democrats will turn on you eventually.
There can be no peace until the Democrats are held accountable for their inflammatory rhetoric, their incitements to violence, and their unwillingness to demand that their supporters turn down the temperature. They are the bad actors here, and to demand ICE step away from their legal duty is the exact opposite of justice. Bishop Barron had a chance to call for that, and he didn't.
