House Democrat leadership staff quietly advised members of Congress to stay away from Minnesota this week.
An internal email from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' office cited security concerns and a desire not to strain local resources during ongoing anti-ICE demonstrations in Minneapolis, according to Axios, which confirmed the email's authenticity with two congressional staffers.
The recommendation comes at a time when tensions are running high and elected officials have become targets of physical confrontations. One might think lawmakers would want to be on the front lines of causes they champion, but apparently, solidarity is safer from a distance.
The email obtained by Axios urged members to participate in "Days of Action" from their home districts rather than travel to the North Star State. "In speaking with the [Minnesota] delegation offices and the Governor's team, it has become clear that the best thing for Members to do right now is to support their MN colleagues by participating in the Days of Action in their home district this week," the message stated.
As reported by Breitbart News, the guidance explicitly warned that visiting Minnesota "puts a burden on local resources and does not support our colleagues, the city and state government, local law enforcement and most importantly the people of Minneapolis." It is a curious position for a party that has often questioned local police budgets to suddenly express concern about overtaxing law enforcement.
Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota was recently sprayed with an unknown substance by a man during a town hall event where she called for abolishing ICE and the resignation of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. She was rushed off stage, but later declared she would not be intimidated.
Just days before the Omar incident, Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida was punched in the face at a Sundance Film Festival party. Frost described the attack as racially motivated, citing remarks the assailant allegedly made about Trump and deportation. The suspect was arrested.
These incidents have clearly rattled Democrat leadership enough to issue travel advisories to their own members. Whether or not one agrees with these lawmakers' politics, physical attacks on elected officials are unacceptable in a civil society.
Still, some Democrats have ignored the guidance entirely. Sen. Raphael Warnock traveled to Minneapolis to appear at protest events, where he declared that "Donald Trump has unleashed evil on our streets." Warnock framed the demonstrations as part of a "moral moment" requiring a multiracial coalition to confront what he called a national spiritual crisis.
New York candidates Brad Lander and Micah Lasher also made appearances at Minnesota protests. Lander, who was arrested in 2025 for allegedly interfering with ICE agents during a deportation proceeding, has continued his vocal opposition to immigration enforcement. "Trump is trying to escalate conflict. He wants to bait and provoke," Lander said of federal actions.
On Wednesday, authorities made multiple arrests during an anti-Border Patrol protest outside a Maple Grove hotel after declaring the gathering unlawful. Reports indicated property damage and objects thrown at police.
Several of those arrested have past criminal records, including convictions for robbery, theft, and DWI. The protests coincide with Operation Metro Surge, a Department of Homeland Security initiative targeting violent criminal aliens in sanctuary jurisdictions, which has led to arrests of individuals accused of homicide, rape, and child sex crimes.
Despite the safety warnings to their own members, Democrat leaders remain committed to their anti-ICE messaging. Jeffries has accused the agency of using taxpayer dollars to "brutalize families and kill American citizens," pointing to the death of Renee Nicole Goode.
He has called for stricter oversight measures, including body camera requirements, bans on masked operations, and judicial warrants for all enforcement actions. These demands come even as DHS conducts operations against individuals accused of serious violent offenses.
The contradiction is striking: Democrat leaders want their members safe from protest zones while simultaneously encouraging the activism that creates those conditions. Perhaps governing would be easier if one's rhetoric did not require quite so much distance from its consequences.